Providing Essential Hygiene & Combating Food Insecurity in San Diego

The Junior League of San Diego (JLSD) Diaper Bank & Period Pantry is committed to addressing diaper and period product insecurity to enhance the well-being of families throughout San Diego County. In collaboration with local nonprofit organizations, we distribute essential hygiene products to individuals affected by food insecurity. Many families struggling to afford basic necessities like diapers and period products also face challenges in accessing nutritious food.

With rising living costs and limited assistance from government programs like WIC and CalFresh—neither of which cover diapers or menstrual products—households are forced to make difficult choices between purchasing food or essential hygiene items. Through partnerships with local nonprofits, JLSD provides these critical supplies to alleviate financial stress, promote dignity, and support the overall well-being of vulnerable families in our community.

Why It Matters

• Diaper Need: Approximately 1 in 3 U.S. families struggle to afford enough diapers to keep their children clean, dry, and healthy.
• Period Product Insecurity: Many individuals face challenges in accessing affordable menstrual products, leading to health risks and missed opportunities.
• Financial Strain: Government assistance programs like WIC and CalFresh do not cover these essential items, placing an additional financial burden on low-income families.

Average Annual Costs in San Diego

• Diapers: On average, parents spend between $70 and $80 per month on diapers for one child. The per-diaper cost ranges from approximately $0.20 to $0.30, depending on the brand and retailer. Bulk purchasing from warehouse clubs like Costco can reduce the cost to around $0.20 per diaper. With rising prices, the average package of disposable diapers increased by 32% from 2019 to 2024, now costing approximately $21.90 per package.
• Period Products: The average person spends between $120 to $180 annually on menstrual products.

Diaper & Period Product Usage

• Diaper Use:
  • A newborn typically uses 8-10 diapers per day. By toddlerhood, this may decrease to 4-6 diapers per day.
  • Annual Requirement: A baby may need around 2,500 to 3,000 diapers in the first year.

• Period Products:
  • Many individuals use 10-30 pads or tampons per cycle.
  • Annual Requirement: This totals approximately 240-360 products per year.

Our Impact

Since our inception, JLSD has distributed diapers and period products through our community partners. Our annual milestones include:

• 2020-2021: Donated 20,000 diapers and 3,000 period products.
• 2021-2022: Increased donations to 35,000 diapers and 33,000 period products.
• 2022-2023: Targeted a 50% increase, distributing 50,000 diapers and 50,000 period products.
• 2023-2024: Distributed over 59,000 period products and over 92,000 diapers; expanded outreach and partnerships.

How We Operate

JLSD collaborates with approved nonprofit agencies to distribute diapers and period products at no cost. These items are sourced through community drives, grants, and member contributions. We promote drives, manage inventory, and deliver these essential supplies to our community partners from our headquarters.

How You Can Help

Donate Today – Make a Difference

For every $1 donated, we can distribute 3 diapers to a family in need. Your support helps fulfill increasing requests from our community partners and ensures families receive the essential items they need.

If you’re able to give back, please contact us at jlsddonationdrive@gmail.com—your generosity makes a direct impact on families throughout San Diego County.

Your contribution provides:

$10 – Approximately 36 diapers or 52 pads

$25 – Approximately 90 diapers or 130 pads

$50 – Approximately 180 diapers or 260 pads

Shop Our Wish Lists Registries

Purchase items from our curated wish lists, and they will be shipped directly to us:

Amazon Diaper Bank Registry

Amazon Period Pantry Registry

Target Diaper Bank Registry

Target Period Pantry Registry

Host a Drive

Organize a diaper and period product drive within your community, workplace, or school:

• In-Person Drive: Collect physical products at your location.
• Virtual Drive: Share our wish lists and raise funds online.

 Toolkit Link

Year Round Drop-Off Locations

Donate period supplies at:

• Junior League of San Diego Office: 210 Maple St., San Diego, CA. Open Monday through Friday, 10 AM – 2 PM (with the exception of federal holidays). Please email office@jlsd.com to schedule a drop-off.  

Become a Partner

We welcome applications from local nonprofit agencies to join our distribution network. Contact: communitydonations@jlsd.org

Other Ways to Support

• Spread the Word: Follow and share our mission on Instagram and Facebook.

Contact Us

For questions or to coordinate a collection, email us at jlsddonationdrive@gmail.com.

Together, we can eliminate diaper and period product insecurity in San Diego County. Thank you for supporting the Junior League of San Diego Diaper Bank & Period Pantry!