Gas or Diapers? No Family Should Have To Choose

Written By Lindsey Lintjer

Imagine having to choose between buying gas or buying diapers. For nearly half of households in mid-Michigan living below the ALICE threshold, this is a painful reality.

For one local mom, the decision was all too real. She had a diaper pick-up appointment scheduled with United Way of Greater Central Michigan’s Diaper Bank program. But she sent this message instead:

“I really, really did need them. But I don’t have gas until tonight when my check hits at 10. I’m so sorry.”

Her words reflect the daily struggles faced by many hardworking families in our community, families who are doing everything they can, but still can’t afford the basics. 

Thanks to a grant from our local community foundation, United Way had one-time $50 gas cards on hand for situations just like this. That day, staff provided the mom with a gas card, allowing her to pick up her diapers right away. It’s a powerful reminder of how United Way steps in to fill gaps and meet needs as they arise.

What Is Diaper Need?

According to the National Diaper Bank Network, 1 in 2 U.S. families struggle with diaper need—the lack of a sufficient supply of diapers to keep an infant or child clean, dry, and healthy. Diaper need doesn’t just affect babies. It places heavy burdens on parents and caregivers:

  • Families under stress often face tough choices between diapers and other necessities like food, housing, or gas.

  • Babies left in dirty or reused diapers are at greater risk of diaper rash and urinary tract infections.

  • Parents who don’t have enough diapers may miss work or school. In a survey by the National Diaper Bank Network, 57% of parents experiencing diaper need missed work or school in the past month because they couldn’t provide the required supply of diapers for childcare.

Diaper Need in Mid-Michigan

Here in mid-Michigan, diaper need is closely tied to ALICE households. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level but less than what it actually costs to make ends meet. In Isabella County alone, 48% of households fall below the ALICE threshold (unitedforalice.org). These families are at the greatest risk of suffering the effects of diaper need. Many simply cannot afford diapers, even while working full-time.

United Way’s Response: The Diaper Bank Program

Through our Diaper Bank program, we are expanding access to diapers and diapering supplies across our communities. While other diaper banks exist, research shows that two out of three families experiencing diaper need don’t even know these resources are available. As a trusted local resource, United Way of Greater Central Michigan helps bridge that gap by connecting families with essentials they might not otherwise be able to access.

In the 2024–25 program year alone, we provided over 27,500 diapers and 40,020 wipes to low-income families across Gratiot, Isabella, Montcalm, and Ionia counties. Behind every number is a baby who is healthier, a parent who can go to work, and a family with a little less stress.

Together, we can make sure every baby in mid-Michigan has the basics to thrive. You can help by:

When our community comes together, families don’t have to choose between gas and diapers.

Lindsey Lintjer
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