Shelby Diaper Pantry

The Shelby Diaper Pantry

Providing Essential Care. Strengthening Families. Building Community.

The Shelby Diaper Pantry, 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry of the First Presbyterian Church, and First United Church of Christ in Shelby, Ohio is dedicated to helping families in need by providing essential diapering and personal care supplies. Our mission is simple: to ensure that no family in the greater Shelby area has to choose between purchasing diapers and meeting other basic household needs.

We are seeking $5,000 in funding to sustain our current diaper and baby-wipe distribution program while expanding our services to address another significant unmet need in our community: period poverty. With this funding, the Shelby Diaper Pantry will introduce monthly period-care kits and provide community resource information to women, girls and families experiencing financial hardship throughout Richland County and surrounding communities.

Through monthly distributions, participants will receive essential period-care products along with information connecting them to available local resources and support services. This expansion will allow the pantry to build upon an established and successful program while reaching additional individuals and families who are struggling to afford basic necessities. The total annual cost of the proposed project is approximately $14,769.16.

OUR STORY

The Shelby Diaper Pantry began in 2022, when a Shelby resident recognized a growing need in the community and began collecting diapers and wipes for local families. As donations increased, her home quickly became overwhelmed with supplies, making it clear that a larger more permanent space was needed.

Church members Bill and Sue Fairchild, along with Pastor James Robinson, worked together to renovate the third floor of First Presbyterian Church, creating a dedicated space that now serves as the permanent home of the Shelby Diaper Pantry.

When the original founder was no longer able to continue the program, a dedicated group of volunteers stepped forward to ensure that this vital service would continue. Since then, the Pantry has experienced tremendous growth. What began with distribution of approximately 600-1,000 diapers per month, has grown to more than 3,500 diapers distributed each month.

Today, the Shelby Diaper Pantry serves more than 90 children and approximately 56 families each month. For each child in diapers, families receive 40 diapers, a package of wipes, with diaper rash cream provided when needed.

The Pantry is open for distribution on the fourth Monday of each month from 6:30-7:30pm.

A Community Effort

The success of the Shelby Diaper Pantry is a direct reflection of the generosity and commitment of our local community. The members of First Presbyterian Church and First United Church of Christ have played an essential role in establishing and sustaining this ministry.  Each month, church members purchase and donate diapers and wipes to help keep our shelves stocked.

We are also grateful for the support of local organizations, including the Shelby United Lions Club and the Shelby Nursing Hospital Congress. Community diaper drives held at the Shelby YMCA and Marvin Memorial Library have also provided valuable donations and helped raise awareness about diaper need in our community.

Now that the Shelby Diaper Pantry has obtained official 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, we are expanding our outreach to local businesses, organizations, foundations and individual donors. Financial support will allow us to purchase the supplies needed to meet increasing demand while expanding our services to address period poverty and connect families with additional community resources.

The Need Continues to Grow

For families experiencing financial hardship, diapers and personal hygiene products are not optional expenses-they are necessities. The cost of these products can place a significant strain on already limited household budgets. By providing diapers, wipes and period-care products, and connections to community resources, the Shelby Diaper Pantry helps families redirect their limited income toward other essential expenses such as food, housing, utilities, transportation and medical care.

Our goal is to ensure that families in Shelby and surrounding communities have access to the basic supplies they need to care for themselves and their children with dignity.

We invite you to partner with us in this important work. Your support will have a direct and meaningful impact on local families and will help us build a stronger, healthier and more supportive community.

Together, we can ensure that no family has to go without essential care because they cannot afford it.

Shelby Diaper Pantry Board of Directors: 

James Robinson, Jennifer Taylor, Kelsie Brooks, Monica Myers, Sue Fairchild, Stephanie Morris, and Vicky Poffenbaugh.