diaper bank
English
[edit]
Etymology
[edit]From diaper + bank (“a safe and guaranteed place of storage for, and retrieval of, important items or goods”). First attested 3 February 1962 (see quotations) in an article concerning an early diaper bank founded in Pinellas County, Florida, in the United States in August 1960.
Noun
[edit]diaper bank (plural diaper banks)
- (Canada, US) A charitable institution that distributes diapers to those without monetary or convenient access to it.
- Synonym: (Commonwealth, Ireland) nappy bank
- 1962 February 3, Fran Brush, “A Very Important 'Bank': Their Project Is Pinned On Diapers”, in St. Petersburg Times[1], page 10-B:
- These are the members of the Fleet Reserve Auxiliary Unit 123, who for more than 18 months have maintained a diaper bank for the local health clinic. The project began in August, 1960.
- 1975 November 11, “Fashions, Food And Cards”, in Women Morning Journal[2], Daytona Beach Morning Journal, page 3A:
- The club maintains a Diaper Bank[sic] for Newborn Babies, and provides hand knitted sweaters and other clothing for needy youngsters. Among their other projects are camperships to the Salvation Army and the YMCA, and Thanksgiving and Christmas gift certificates for the needy.
- 1998 March 12, “Family Link Celebrates Five Years Of Service”, in San Miguel Basin Forum[3], page 4:
- Because of community need, a clothing bank and a formula/diaper bank was established. A Children's Book Corner (book store) was also established. A summer youth activity program was begun which included soccer.
- 2022 April 7, Megan Deaton, “How Diaper Banks Help Our Neighbors Meet Their Basic Needs”, in Forbes[4]:
- The main purpose of a diaper bank is to provide underserved families with free diapers; but many take this a step further by advocating on behalf of these families. Most diaper banks rely on donated diapers to stock our shelves, so we encourage supporters to get involved by hosting diaper drives on our behalf.
- 2024, Bill Clinton, Citizen: My Life After the White House, Penguin Random House, →ISBN, page 321:
- Since its inception, TSTF has distributed more than 1.4 million books to families who need them, almost 200,000 through diaper banks alone. More than thirteen hundred literacy-themed parks have been launched.