WSB Blog

Governor Jay Inslee Bill Signing SB 5838, the End Diaper Need Act With Governor Jay Inslee’s signature, we move closer to our shared vision of every child having their basic human needs met. Our deepest gratitude to our partners and community for your support in making this historic investment happen! See Governor Jay Inslee sign SB 5838 here

A Historic Win for Families Experiencing Diaper Need! WestSide Baby is thrilled to announce SB 5838, the End Diaper Need Act has been passed and funded in the Washington state budget as legislative session wraps up today!  The End Diaper Need Act is one-of-a-kind, and makes Washington only the second state in the nation to acknowledge and address the financial burden of diaper need faced by low-income families. Beginning in Fall 2023, all Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) households with children under the age of three will receive a $100 per month cash grant increase to help pay for diapers.  Toni Sarge, Director of Public Affairs for WestSide Baby, spoke to the legislature about why this bill is necessary in this moment. “Diaper need is an overlooked challenge that…

WestSide Baby in the News WA bill proposes subsidy to help some families buy diapers Families receiving TANF could get more money for diapers if Senate Bill 5838 passes in the Legislature. Crosscut | March 1, 2022 Sequoia Dolan considers herself Wonder Woman. She gets up before 6:30 a.m., prepares breakfast for her children, drops her son off at school, waits at the bus stop with her daughter and then spends time with her 2-year-old. Her little one is still in diapers, which may become easier for her to afford if Washington lawmakers can pass Senate Bill 5838, which would give extra money to families trying to make ends meet. To get through the month, Dolan typically buys a box of diapers from Costco and another from Safeway before heading…

The Washington State Diaper Bank Coalition  In 2017, WestSide Baby formed the Washington State Diaper Bank Coalition by conducting phone calls and informational interviews with diaper banks across the state. We more formally convened via regular email communication shortly after that. The coalition primarily served as a connection point for diaper banks of different sizes, serving different populations, to occasionally connect and ask questions. In 2019, the coalition more regularly communicated regarding important advocacy goals including exempting diapers from sales tax, and engaging legislators around a diaper subsidy program for low-income working families. All diaper banks reported an increase in distribution in 2020 continuing into 2021. The coalition consists of the 10 diaper banks recognized by the National Diaper Bank Network:  Eastside Baby Corner (1990) serving East King County, South…

Thank you for continuing to do your part in keeping our community safe & healthy! COVID-19 Health and Safety COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement UPDATE: November 30, 2021 As we evaluate compliance with new King County and City of Seattle Executive Orders requiring vaccines, we will suspend consideration of all vaccine exemptions until further notice.  WestSide Baby will require staff and volunteers to be vaccinated by Monday, November 15, 2021, with considerations for exemptions for religious, medical, deeply held personal reasons, and children under the age of 12 (until the vaccine is available to children under the age of 12). We have chosen to require the vaccine because it is proven to be the most effective tool to keep ourselves and others safe and healthy, especially as the children we serve are unable to. Getting…

Give JOY! Give Warmth! GIVE with WestSide Baby! Give JOY!Give Warmth!GIVE with WestSide Baby! JOY: a source or cause of great happiness This week, our dedicated volunteers and staff are busy filling hundreds of requests for warm coats, rain boots, and other winter essentials. Every single request is handled with care and hope that JOY will be felt when the child receives their items.  Give JOY! In the next six weeks, WestSide Baby, with the help of our partner agencies, will distribute over 800,000 diapers and 500+ clothing bags to children within our community. Will you help us spread more JOY this year? Give Dollars for Diapers Give dollars for diapers through a one-time gift, or by subscribing to our Boxes for Babies monthly giving program, where your year-end gift…

It's National Diaper Need Awareness Week! Diaper Need is a lack of a sufficient supply of diapers to keep a baby clean, dry and healthy. Diaper need affects 1 in 3 families nationally and 23% of families in King County. Within this 23%, families from BIPOC backgrounds are disproportionately impacted by diaper need. Our social safety net does not ensure equal access to basic needs items. Nationally, low-income families pay up to 14% of their entire income on disposable diapers. WIC & food stamps do NOT cover diapers. And while the financial burdens of the pandemic continue, diapers are also becoming increasingly more difficult to afford with prices increasing 12% in under 2 years from the end of 2019 to June of 2021. Read the recent blog post from summer intern, Siona, to learn more.…