Brooklyn Diaper Project: A Pause for Reflection
To Whom it May Concern,
When I founded the Brooklyn Diaper Project (BDP) in May 2020, my initial goal was to distribute one million diapers, believing this would significantly impact families in need. We’ve made substantial progress toward this milestone, moving from individual Amazon orders to efficient pallet deliveries, minimizing overhead and maximizing diaper distribution.
My experience has informed my current commitment to move beyond traditional diaper bank models. While immediate relief is valuable, I recognize that it addresses symptoms rather than underlying causes. New York City families deserve sustainable solutions that promote independence. The increasing diaper need, now affecting nearly one in two families, underscores the urgency of this approach.
Over the past five years BDP has presented unique challenges. Despite my efforts to foster a shared vision, engagement from partner organizations has been limited, and my mission has not resonated as I had hoped. I’ve struggled to build a cohesive community dedicated to addressing diaper need, and the problem has unfortunately worsened. Moreover, there’s a stark mismatch between the level of need expressed to me and the actual level of commitment and engagement I have witnessed. Several partners who initially expressed “desperate need” for diapers simply stopped responding altogether and forgot to follow up to arrange for their final shipments.
Furthermore, interactions with city leaders have been acutely disappointing, presenting additional hurdles. While public support is often visible, it is not consistently backed by meaningful action. The disconnect between public promises and private realities has been a significant obstacle.
All of this suggests a need for a clearer, more compelling objective. Building a dedicated team outside of my own organization of stakeholders who are invested in this outcome is crucial to engaging families and partner organizations in this shared vision.
Therefore, I’ve decided to pause my direct support while I reassess our strategy and explore more impactful ways to empower families. My priority is to ensure that reaching the one million diaper milestone translates into meaningful, lasting change, not just a feeling of accomplishment through arbitrary volume.
I understand that partner organizations are already stretched thin, and I deeply appreciate your dedication and sacrifices. However, your input and feedback are vital in moving forward and building forward.
I invite you to take the following actions:
Review my blog posts: These articulate my vision and the evolution of BDP.
Endorse my open letter (below): Please consider signing my letter to city leaders to advocate for greater diaper accessibility and family independence in NYC.
Email me. I welcome your honest, constructive feedback on how best to move forward. I also welcome any introductions to anyone in your networks who might be well-positioned to help build NYC families a sustainable, independent solution. I am committed to finding a more effective path forward and welcome your collaboration.
I am committed to finding a more effective path forward and welcome your collaboration.
Sincerely,
Wendy Moore
Executive Director, Brooklyn Diaper Project