"Yes, I desperately need diapers and wipes. I have been using cloth diapers that I made from bed sheets and washing their buttocks. I am sorry I am telling you this, it is embarrassing that my babies are in this situation, but I can't take it any longer."
~ Mom in San Francisco (Summer 2020)
This week (September 21st to September 27th) is Diaper Need Awareness Week. In recognition, here’s a quick field update!
One of the amazing agencies we have been able to support through our COVID-19 Rapid Response diaper donations is Homies Empowerment. They operate the FREEDOM Store in east Oakland, where Bay Area residents can shop for free food and toiletries (open every Tuesday). #ItTakesaBarrio!
We recently donated 1,000 cases of diapers to the Child Parent Institute(Sonoma County). They are helping families negatively impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the wildfires ravaging Northern California. Check out this heartfelt video they made to thank us!
With the “new normal”, we have turned to drive-thru giveaways to get more diapers to more families safely. This month, we partnered with Baby Basics of the Peninsula (East Palo Alto) for their inaugural drive-thru event, distributing 1,000 diaper cases. More drive-thru distributions are in the works. Our next one is Saturday, October 3rd in San Francisco (Bayview/Hunters Point). Email emily@helpamotherout.org for volunteer opportunities.
Together, we are making a difference in the lives of our neighbors in need. We appreciate you, particularly through all of the challenges that 2020 has brought for our country and our community.
"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Crib Notes
Sign Up to Be a Monthly Donor - the Gift is on Us!
We are looking for 30 supporters just like you to sign up to be a new monthly donor! Monthly donors sustain our mission and help to guarantee that we can get critically needed diapers to our community. Can we count you in? The first 30 people to sign up to be a monthly donor before October 31st will be eligible to receive a thank you gift from HAMO - the more you give, the more you get!
Sign up at $10/month and we’ll send you three awesome HAMO stickers and a HAMO lip balm.
Sign up at $25/month (or more!) and we’ll send you a swell HAMO branded Yeti mug!
Parenting in Uncertain Times
Back in May, we hosted an intimate talk with the amazing Dr. Allison Briscoe Smith where she spoke to parenting during uncertain times. Some of you have been asking us for additional resources, or if there will be another talk. We have good news! Starting October 1st, Dr. Briscoe Smith is facilitating an online parenting class with small learning groups. To learn more and sign up, click here.
HBS Brainstorming Session
In August we were one of a handful of non profits to participate in Harvard Business School Community Partners (Northern California) brainstorming session. Special thanks to HAMO Leadership Circle Member and HBS alumna, Annie Myers, for facilitating this amazing opportunity for HAMO!
Current Events
Diaper Need in the News: How to Help Parents Who Are Struggling to Provide for Their Kids (NY Times)
Neighborhood Diaper Donation Program
We are still looking for local community heroes to offer up their homes as contactless diaper drop-off sites. If you are interested in learning more, email emily@helpamotherout.org.
Donation of Other Essential Items
As the pandemic continues, we have expanded distributions to include baby wipes, masks and hand sanitizer. So far, we have distributed over 1 million baby wipes, 1,200 bottles of hand sanitizer and 750 masks.
Follow us on Instagram!
If you want to get all of the latest and greatest HAMO updates, be sure to follow us on Instagram. Find us here @helpamotherout!
“Just as someone who did whatever she could, with whatever limited talent she had, to move society along in the direction I would like it to be for my children and grandchildren.”
~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg {on how she wanted to be remembered}