We are St. Luke’s Diaper Bank.
St. Luke’s Diaper Bank began as a diaper drive in fall 2015, collecting diapers to be distributed to area nonprofits. At the conclusion of that drive, community members formed a diaper bank that could provide families with a consistent supply of diapers. SLDB has grown substantially since 2015. In 2021, we distributed the one millionth diaper!
Our Mission
The mission of the St. Luke’s Diaper Bank is to supply diapers and diapering supplies to families experiencing diaper need and living with the pressures of economic inequity. SLDB provides diapers to families directly, and through collaborative partnerships with other organizations. St. Luke’s Diaper Bank is deeply committed to cultural humility, and will work to end the experience of diaper need in Kalamazoo through advocacy, community education and capacity-building, and the provision of diapers and diapering supplies.
Board of Directors
Donna James
Board Chair
Hanna Nichols
Northside Community Liaison
Mable Pulu
Board Secretary
Sharon Nichols
Northside Community Liaison
William James
Board Treasurer
How We’re Funded
St. Luke’s Diaper Bank is a recipient of grants from generous funders in our community including the United Way of South Central Michigan, the ENNA Foundation, and the Okun Foundation and VFW Post 6252 in Comstock. We also receive corporate sponsorships, including support from Parker-Hannifin, and our partnership with Community Action of Allegan County allows us to double our diaper distribution output with no additional cost to the organization. We are so grateful for the support of these funders and partners, which makes our work possible.
Associations
We are a proud member of the National Diaper Bank Network. The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that children, families, and individuals in the United States have access to the basic necessities required to remain healthy and to thrive in daily life.
St Luke’s was founded in 1837 and has been proudly supporting the Kalamazoo community and local Kalamazoo organizations since then. When the knowledge about diaper need was brought to them a number of years ago, they were eager to help. The concept of helping God’s littlest children is something the church has always believed in, and by partnering with the Diaper Bank, they are able to help lots of children in need.
Recipient of the 2023 NAACP-Metropolitan Kalamazoo Branch Vanguard Award