Ten years ago, leaders from Catholic Charities approached five dedicated volunteers at St. Rose of Lima Church in Denver, where a small inventory of diapers was being held and distributed. The need for diapers within Catholic Charities’ ministries was – , and continues to be – great. Together, they envisioned a way to provide more diapers than what was already being distributed at the Marisol Family locations within Catholic Charities. And so, the Bottom-Line Diaper Drive was born.
In its first year, the bank collected an ambitious 80,000 diapers, never imagining that this grassroots effort would evolve into a transformative force – one that now distributes over 2.3 million diapers annually through Marisol Family to families across Colorado.
The Bottom-Line Diaper Bank’s mission has always been to support the needs of Catholic Charities and the broader community. Although diapers are a fundamental need, they are not covered by federal or state assistance programs like food stamps. This leaves many families facing the impossible choice between purchasing diapers or paying for other basic necessities, such as food or medicine. This crisis affects one in two families in Colorado—an urgent and heartbreaking reality.
“Diaper need and its urgency keep me motivated every day to continue this important work,” said Nhung Nielsen, one of the original five Bottom-Line Diaper Drive volunteers. “This milestone is a testament to the generosity of our community, the dedication of our volunteers and the resilience of the families we serve. Thank you to everyone who has supported us.”
Over the years, the need for diapers has only intensified. The stories of the families who rely on Marisol Family and the Bottom-Line Diaper Bank are a constant reminder of why this mission is so important. Volunteers have witnessed parents break down in relief when they realize they won’t have to choose between diapers and groceries that month. They have also seen the strength and resilience of families who, despite working hard every day, still need extra support.
The 2.3 million diapers collected this year are distributed across all Catholic Charities ministries throughout the front range. This includes our 11 Marisol Family locations and two mobile Marisol Miles vehicles that bring diapers directly to the community. The diapers also support our Marisol Services network, which includes Marisol Health—holistic medical centers for women and their families—and Marisol Homes, which provides shelter and support for pregnant women and single women. Additionally, the diapers are distributed to all our Early Childhood Education centers, our Kinship ministry that assists families raising the children of other relatives and our adult senior services within Catholic Charities.
Catholic Charities, driven by our mission to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to the poor and those in need, serves tens of thousands of Colorado neighbors each year. We provide shelter, food, housing, education, counseling and so much more at 76 locations, including Samaritan House, Marisol Services, St. Raphael Counseling, Catholic Charities Housing and others. For 98 years, we’ve supported neighbors and transformed lives—and we look forward to continuing this work as we enter our second century.
This milestone—the 10-year anniversary of the Bottom-Line Diaper Bank—would not have been possible without the support of our community. From the countless volunteers who dedicate their time to sorting and distributing diapers, to the parishes and schools that have started and continue to hold drives of their own to support the mission, this is a celebration of all who have contributed.
Looking ahead, the need for support remains as urgent as ever. Diaper need is still a silent crisis that affects the health, dignity and future of families across Colorado. The fight is not over, but thanks to the community’s support, real progress is being made.
Here’s to the next 10 years—thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Together, we will continue to provide the most essential resource to families in need, one diaper at a time.