Volunteering is a great way for families to bond while giving back to the community. However, finding age-appropriate opportunities can be difficult, especially for young children. Many organizations have minimum age requirements for volunteering or focus on monetary donations. This makes it hard to find projects where kids can get involved. But with a bit of creativity, families can transform simple diaper collections into a fun service project that teaches children the importance of helping others.
Before we dive into how to turn diaper collections into a hands-on service project, let’s first understand the reason for this project. We decided to partner with Mother's Refuge, a maternity home for pregnant or parenting, homeless young women from ages 12-21. Diapers are a crucial necessity for all babies, but even more-so for young moms in financial hardship or without a place to live. In fact, these young moms need a lot of support, and diapers are just one of many things they need. By collecting diapers, families can directly reduce some of the stress these mothers face. We respect and admire the work that Mother's Refuge does to support these young mothers and wanted to do something to support their mission.
Finding suitable volunteer opportunities for families with young children can be challenging. A major obstacle is the age limits that often prevent younger kids from participating in traditional projects. While some organizations encourage donations of supplies, these activities often lack engaging elements that allow children to be actively involved. Kids are active. They move a lot. They like to use their hands and be a part of things!
Although organizing a diaper collection at home can be simple, it often lacks the in-person activity component that keeps children enthusiastic. How can families transform this noble effort into something inclusive and educational? We know young children love to imitate what they see at home and frequently play with baby dolls. We wanted to make this project relatable and fun for kids.
After brainstorming various ways to involve younger kids in diaper collections, we came up with a fun idea: The Diaper Babies Service Project! This project combines the simplicity of organizing a diaper collection with an enjoyable, hands-on activity for kids.
At KindCraft, we always aim to ensure our project is beneficial and meets a real need in our community. We contacted Mother's Refuge to check if they needed diapers, baby washcloths, and booty socks. They said YES and loved the idea!
With donations from our KindCraft members and support from our event sponsor, Target, we were able to purchase enough diapers, washcloths, and socks to create over 850 diaper babies.
About 85 KindCrafters gathered at the Olathe Community Center to learn about Mother's Refuge. Alicia Janssen, Development and Compliance Specialist from Mother's Refuge, spoke to the families briefly, sharing information about the maternity shelter and ways families can get more involved. It is so important for kids to know WHY we are doing these projects. Who will benefit? Why do they need help?
Then we started making our diaper babies!
Diapers were sorted by size (each table had a specific size, and we labeled them to identify the size after bundling). They rolled the diaper, secured it with ONE piece of tape, swaddled the baby in a washcloth, and topped it with a booty sock. They were sure to make another baby with the matching sock so the moms would have a pair. We rolled, taped, wrapped, and topped with a "hat" until all the babies were made! And a sharpie was used for the eyes.
Organizing a Diaper Babies Service Project is a rewarding experience that teaches children about compassion and educates families about the needs in our community. Instead of seeing volunteering as a chore, families can create a fun event that engages kids while making an impact.
When families approach volunteering with creativity and inclusiveness, the children’s joy, combined with the knowledge of making a difference, illustrates the magic of helping others. So gather your family, friends, and neighbors, and support young mothers and their babies in a meaningful way. Happy volunteering!
**Need help organizing a diaper collection? Check out our Diaper Collection Toolkit here.
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