Item:
Title
Approve a Service Contract of $60,000 in County Early Childhood Action Plan Funds for North Carolina Diaper Bank to Provide Diapers and Essential Supplies
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: March 9, 2026
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve a service contract of $60,000 using Early Childhood Action Plan (ECAP) implementation funds. Funds from this contract will be used by Diaper Bank of North Carolina (DBNC) to purchase diapers and other essential supplies for distributions by community partners in Durham County, including Cooperative Extension’s Welcome Baby Family Resource Center. This contract will also fund DBNC’s Essential Hub program, which distributes supplies in Durham Housing Authority neighborhoods and other community locations. DBNC is only source of comprehensive diaper distribution serving our region.
About 12 percent of Durham County residents live below the federal poverty line and roughly 17 percent of Durham’s children live in poverty. Many working families cannot meet basic costs, and when budgets are tight, diapers and hygiene items compete with rent, transportation and food. Running short means more rashes and infections for infants, more missed work or school for caregivers and increased social isolation for those relying on adult incontinence items. In Durham, requests to DBNC have increased by 50 percent for diapers and 83 percent for period products.
DBNC’s research shows that distributing free hygiene supplies produces positive outcomes across groups: among parents and caregivers, 62 percent feel happier, 61 percent can increase spending on food, 43 percent perceive their children are happier and 28 percent healthier, 27 percent can pay non-medical bills, 18 percent have the diapers needed for childcare attendance, 15 percent report increased work or school attendance, and 5 percent can pay medical bills; among menstruating individuals, 52 percent feel less stress, 54 percent feel healthier, 87 percent feel cleaner, and 57 percent can spend on other needed items.
These funds will support the distribution of 100,000 diapers and other essential family supplies as needed (such as wipes, infant formula, period products, and adult incontinence products) supporting approximately 2,000 babies in Durham County.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: A robust ecosystem of early childhood programs, aligns with the DCo Forward strategic focus areas of Empowered Community and Healthy and Inclusive Community.
Resource Persons: Ileana Vink, County Early Childhood Coordinator; Donna Rewalt, County Extension Director.
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board approve a service contract of $60,000 in Early Childhood Action Plan implementation funds for Diaper Bank of North Carolina.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________