By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

The novel coronavirus pandemic has caused many people to stock up on groceries, toilet paper and other household essentials. But many families in Central New York cannot afford to buy several weeks’ or months’ worth of supplies, and they find only empty shelves when they head to the store. Each month, the CNY Diaper Bank distributes more than 100,000 diapers to 2,000-plus babies and toddlers in the greater Syracuse area. As diapers become scarce in stores and the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down businesses, the need is greater than ever.

“We’ve distributed over 60% more than last month already and we’re putting caps on what partners can take,” said Michela Hugo, founder of the CNY Diaper Bank. “The demand is so high, we can’t sustain it.”

The CNY Diaper Bank has created a COVID-19 crisis fund to help meet the community’s additional need. Because of the threat of spreading the virus, physical donations and most volunteer activities are on hold, Hugo said. “It’s just hard not knowing how things are transmitted and how long the virus lasts. It’s just safer that we’re not accepting physical donations right now. The dollars go farther anyway,” Hugo said. “They can make a much larger impact by donating the money that they would have spent in the store because we can buy at least double what they can buy.”

The diaper bank purchases diapers in bulk at a discount. Hugo said the organization’s supplier is currently running a bit behind but does not expect a shortage.

“We just bought a truckload before this crisis. We weren’t expecting to buy another truckload this soon,” she said.

The organization has a large inventory of small diapers (sizes 1 and 2) but larger sizes are in great demand.

“We are hearing from a lot of families directly that are saying, ‘The stores don’t have size 5s’ or ‘I can’t find size 6.’ This is when you don’t want people going all over, but people are going to from store to store to find what they need,” Hugo said. “I’m literally getting messages from people saying, ‘I am scared and I don’t know what to do.’”

Since its inception in 2016, the CNY Diaper Bank has distributed more than 2 million diapers to families in the Syracuse area. Layoffs in light of the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated many CNY families’ hardships.

“A lot of families that were getting by because they had a job are struggling because they’re not getting paid. We’re hearing from a lot more families every day who are scared,” Hugo said.

To donate to the CNY Diaper Bank’s COVID-19 crisis fund, visit cnydiaperbank.org or contact [email protected].