Combating Diaper Need in Lake County

Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Ann Marie relocated to Illinois in 2000 with her then employer. She and her
husband, Michael, live in Wadsworth with their seven children.

Founded in 2010 by Ann Marie Mathis, Twice As Nice Mother & Child (TANMC) was built with the goal of providing disadvantaged families with what they need to get back on their feet. TANMC provides help and hope to families in crisis by distributing diapers and other needs at no cost through agency partnetships as well as direct service, while raising awareness about diaper need and working to build a sustaiable diaper program in lake county.

Since inception, TANMC has fostered partnerships with over 30 social service agencies and now provide help to 300+ children a month...and counting. With just 11 volunteers and no paid staff, the organization subsists entirely on the generosity of its volunteer base and the altruism of its board.

Diaper need affects 1 in 3 families in the United States and impacts the physical, mental and economic well-being of parents and children. Diapers are a basic need for children—as essential to their health and well-being as food, shelter and a parent’s love. Yet many families struggle to afford diapers and limited resources exist to help them. Safety net programs like food stamps and W.I.C. do not cover diapers—and no government program provides diapers as a basic need for children. Diapers are an ongoing and high priority need for many families, but especially for those that are experiencing financial hardship. Over 31% of infants and toddlers with at least 1 parent that works full-time live in low-income families. With a cost between $80 and $100 per child per month, families are often forced to choose between buying diapers, paying bills or getting groceries. That is a choice that no family should have to make. The diaper bank at Twice As Nice Mother & Child is able to fill the gap by providing free diapers so that parents can keep their children clean, dry and healthy. As a member of the National Diaper Bank Network, our on-site diaper bank and mobile diaper pantry distributes over 200,000 diapers every year. Our diaper distribution program helps to restore stability and hope by eliminating barriers to access basic needs for the most vulnerable residents in Lake County.    

Host: Zhuming Smith