News & Events
NC food banks distribute groceries to TSA agents
NC food banks distribute groceries to TSA agents
Even though Transportation Security Administration agents are starting to get paychecks again, one union official pointed out their household bills have piled up, so North Carolina food banks are helping to ease the effects of the partial government shutdown.
Big News Network- Zamone Perez - 6th April 2026
Even though Transportation Security Administration agents are starting to get paychecks again, one union official pointed out their household bills have piled up, so North Carolina food banks are helping to ease the effects of the partial government shutdown.
TSA employees had indirectly fallen victim to the congressional impasse over funding for ICE and Border Patrol in the Department of Homeland Security budget. Paychecks started arriving again on March 30, after President Donald Trump signed an executive order.
Mac Johnson, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 0449, which represents TSA employees at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, said agents still are not yet on firm financial footing.
"They still have to catch up on their bills," Johnson pointed out. "I anticipate within a week or two that all of those funds will be exhausted, catching up on overdue bills."
To support TSA agents, the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority partnered with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and the Diaper Bank of North Carolina. The groups hosted a food and supply drive for TSA agents, most of whom have kept showing up for work during the shutdown.
All Things Leland- Diaper Bank of North CarolinaCommunity Conversation with the Founder and CEO of the Diaper Bank - Michelle Schaefer and Julie Bowling (Lower Cape Fear Branch of the Diaper Bank)
All Things Leland- Diaper Bank of North Carolina
Community Conversation with the Founder and CEO of the Diaper Bank - Michelle Schaefer and Julie Bowling (Lower Cape Fear Branch of the Diaper Bank)
Having a child at home with severe diaper rash, DiaperBank founder Michelle Schaefer was changing his diaper 20 – 30 times a day, she could not stop the infections from taking over, causing her son to be extremely ill and in pain. As her son started to heal, Michelle started to wonder about parents who were not able to grab that next diaper to help their babies stay clean, dry, and healthy and knew there was no assistance for these families to do so.
In January 2013, Schaefer formed the Diaper Bank of NC with the hopes of providing 50,000 diapers in her community within the year. The Diaper Bank now distributes over 7.5 million diapers a year state-wide, with branches in the Triangle, Charlotte, Greater Triad, and Lower Cape Fear Region.
To learn more about the Diaper Bank we are pleased to have a conversation with Michelle and Julie Bowling (Lower Cape Fear Branch of the Diaper Bank).
New Legislation Would Help Military Families Struggling with Diaper Costs
Two lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a new bipartisan bill that would help military families with children and on tight budgets to purchase and gain better access to diapers and supplies.
Two lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a new bipartisan bill that would help military families with children and on tight budgets to purchase and gain better access to diapers and supplies.
Reps. Valerie Foushee (D-NC) and Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) on Tuesday introduced the Military Family Diaper Partnership Act which would establish what they call a Military Family Diaper Fund to support military families and children of servicemembers by providing reliable access to diapers and related supplies.
The legislation follows the pair’s previously introduced legislation in November 2025 called the Military Family Diaper Assistance Act, intended to also aid military families’ pocketbooks by establishing a pilot program that would connect community diaper banks with military installations to increase affordability and diapers to families in need.
“Military families make enormous sacrifices every day, moving to new communities, juggling deployments, and keeping life running at home while their loved ones serve,” Foushe said in a statement. “Caring for young children under these conditions can already be overwhelming, and access to basic necessities like diapers should never be a struggle.”
“It’s time to provide military families with the support that they’re counting on to help them grow and thrive,” he said.
Law Would Link DoD, Diaper Bank
If taken up by Congress and ultimately voted into law, this legislation would direct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to enter into an agreement with the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN)—the nation’s leading organization coordinating the donation and distribution of free diapers and essential supplies across the country.
That arrangement would involve the Department of Defense providing $1 million annually from Fiscal Year 2027, which would begin in October 2026, to FY 2030 to establish the Military Family Diaper Fund.
NDBN would match those federal funds, equating to a combined total four-year investment of $8 million and support diaper distribution centers located within a 20-mile radius of military installations.
Also, per the agreement, NBDN would submit an annual report to Hegseth or whoever is the defense secretary at the time, providing detailed accounts of funding to provide transparency and accountability.
'Readiness and Economic Issue'
The Military Family Diaper Partnership Act is endorsed by NDBN and the Diaper Bank of North Carolina (DBNC) and the National Diaper Bank Network…
Spotlight Session: Diaper Bank of North Carolina
PIR- Spotlight Session: Diaper Bank of North Carolina
What started as one mother’s determination to ease her child’s pain has grown into a statewide movement addressing one of the most overlooked basic needs: access to diapers and hygiene essentials.
In this Spotlight Session, Michelle Schaefer, CEO and founder of the Diaper Bank of North Carolina (DBNC), shares the deeply personal moment that sparked the organization’s founding.
What started as one mother’s determination to ease her child’s pain has grown into a statewide movement addressing one of the most overlooked basic needs: access to diapers and hygiene essentials.
In this Spotlight Session, Michelle Schaefer, CEO and founder of the Diaper Bank of North Carolina (DBNC), shares the deeply personal moment that sparked the organization’s founding. After watching her youngest son suffer from severe diaper rashes, Michelle realized how many families face impossible choices between diapers and other necessities. With public assistance programs like WIC and SNAP unable to cover diapers, she saw a gap that urgently needed to be filled.
Distributing Dignity Across North Carolina
Michelle Schaefer, CEO and founder of Diaper Bank of North Carolina (DBNC), met her youngest son when he was a day old. For the first year and a half of his life, he experienced extremely severe diaper rashes that left him ill and in pain. Despite changing his diaper 30 to 40 times a day, Schaefer could not keep the infections at bay. As her son began to heal, she found herself thinking about parents who could not simply reach for the next diaper to keep their babies clean, dry, and healthy.
Michelle Schaefer, CEO and founder of Diaper Bank of North Carolina (DBNC), met her youngest son when he was a day old. For the first year and a half of his life, he experienced extremely severe diaper rashes that left him ill and in pain. Despite changing his diaper 30 to 40 times a day, Schaefer could not keep the infections at bay. As her son began to heal, she found herself thinking about parents who could not simply reach for the next diaper to keep their babies clean, dry, and healthy. Diaper need is more than a financial stressor, children without enough clean diapers experience higher rates of serious infections, and most childcare programs require parents to provide an adequate diaper supply. Without diapers, children cannot attend daycare or preschool, which can jeopardize their parents’ ability to work, attend school, or maintain financial stability.
Public safety net programs like WIC and SNAP do not cover the cost of diapers, leaving many families to make impossible choices between purchasing diapers and other essentials. Seeing this gap, Schaefer became determined to help meet this most basic need. What began with a single laundry basket of diapers has now grown into four warehouse locations distributing essential hygiene products through trusted nonprofit partners across North Carolina.
NPR- The best volunteers are the ones who are committed and always show up
NPR- A retired nurse knew that many families in her community struggle to afford diapers, so she picked a volunteer job where she could really help.
A retired nurse knew that many families in her community struggle to afford diapers, so she picked a volunteer job where she could really help.
TRANSCRIPT-
AILSA CHANG, HOST: When it comes to volunteering, every organization has people they can always depend on to show up and tackle any task. For our series Here to Help, Rachel Keith, with member Station WHQR, reports on a retired nurse who found her volunteer niche.
RACHEL KEITH, BYLINE: Doris Robinson has a lot of experience with packing diapers. She comes to the Diaper Bank of North Carolina, Lower Cape Fear, every Wednesday.
Half of Cape Fear families struggle to afford diapers, local bank steps in
NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY) — One in two families in the Cape Fear region struggles with buying diapers, forcing many to sacrifice other essentials just to get by.
The Lower Cape Fear Branch of The Diaper Bank of North Carolina works to fill that gap.
Volunteers wrap diapers and gather supplies to load into a van to get to families who need them most.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY) — One in two families in the Cape Fear region struggles with buying diapers, forcing many to sacrifice other essentials just to get by.
The Lower Cape Fear Branch of The Diaper Bank of North Carolina works to fill that gap.
Volunteers wrap diapers and gather supplies to load into a van to get to families who need them most.
About 10 percent of what they give out comes from community donations, with the vast majority purchased in bulk by the diaper bank.
Julie Bowling is the director for The Lower Cape Fear branch.
She says the need isn’t just about supplies; it’s about preventing larger consequences for families.
Durham-based Diaper Bank sees huge surge in requests amid federal government shutdown
A Durham-based nonprofit that distributes hygiene products like diapers for babies has seen an 80% increase this year in requests due to the government shutdown as well as delays for WIC and SNAP benefits. Diaper Bank of North Carolina has provided more than 35 million diapers across the state since its creation in 2013.
The nonprofit’s CEO and founder, Michelle Schaefer, said as the government shutdown continues, it’s starting to impact more people in the working class.
A Durham-based nonprofit that distributes hygiene products like diapers for babies has seen an 80% increase this year in requests due to the government shutdown as well as delays for WIC and SNAP benefits. Diaper Bank of North Carolina has provided more than 35 million diapers across the state since its creation in 2013.
The nonprofit’s CEO and founder, Michelle Schaefer, said as the government shutdown continues, it’s starting to impact more people in the working class.
“We're hearing it from military bases, from TSA workers, we have done some distributions to help fill in the gap during the time,” she said. “But as it extends out, it is impacting the most vulnerable families in North Carolina.”
More than $17 million in grants from The Endowment
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Endowment is awarding eight new grants totaling more than $17 million for initial disbursement in 2025 or 2026.
The grants will be used to expand healthcare access, strengthen youth and family services, provide safe and affordable housing, and preserve historic resources.
With these latest awards, The Endowment’s 2025 grantmaking reaches 167 grants totaling more than $58 million, benefiting New Hanover County.
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Endowment is awarding eight new grants totaling more than $17 million for initial disbursement in 2025 or 2026.
The grants will be used to expand healthcare access, strengthen youth and family services, provide safe and affordable housing, and preserve historic resources.
With these latest awards, The Endowment’s 2025 grantmaking reaches 167 grants totaling more than $58 million, benefiting New Hanover County.
“These grants represent partnership in motion,” said Sophie Dagenais, Interim President and CEO of The Endowment. “By investing in health, housing, youth programs, and community resources, we’re strengthening the systems that keep opportunity and resilience within reach for everyone in New Hanover County.”
The full list of grants is as follows:
MedNorth Health Center – $5,000,000 to complete the expansion and renovation of the center, increasing access to care and essential services
Diaper Bank of North Carolina – $447,906 to expand the eHub program and fund a full-time staff member at the Lower Cape Fear Branch
Kids Making It – $900,000 to help support general operations, expand, diversify funding, and launch the Apprentice Campus …
‘Huge impact’: Nonprofit in Charlotte distributes thousands of diapers to families in need
CHARLOTTE — Among the essential items for parents of young children is diapers, but that cost adds up quickly.
According to the Diaper Bank of North Carolina, half of families are in need of diapers, but one Charlotte organization is working to change that.
“There’s no assistance for diapers. WIC and food stamps do not cover them, and they cost over $100 a month,” Michelle Schaefer, the founder of Diaper Bank of North Carolina, said. “Families are literally making choices between buying food or buying diapers, and every single time they will choose to feed their children.”
CHARLOTTE — Among the essential items for parents of young children is diapers, but that cost adds up quickly.
According to the Diaper Bank of North Carolina, half of families are in need of diapers, but one Charlotte organization is working to change that.
“There’s no assistance for diapers. WIC and food stamps do not cover them, and they cost over $100 a month,” Michelle Schaefer, the founder of Diaper Bank of North Carolina, said. “Families are literally making choices between buying food or buying diapers, and every single time they will choose to feed their children.”
