New Law Provides $4 Million To Purchase 26 Million Diapers Over Next 2 Years

DENVER (CBS4)- Hunger Free Colorado says the need for diapers has surpassed the need for food for many Colorado families. Four moms, who are also state lawmakers, are helping meet the need.

They sponsored a bill, signed into law Tuesday, that provides $4 million over the next two years to purchase 26 million diapers. The diapers will be distributed by local non-profits to moms in need.

Lawmakers say one of the reasons diapers are in such high demand is because federal programs like SNAP and WIC don't cover diapers.

"This is really a policy failure at the federal level. The current benefits for WIC and SNAP do not cover things like diapers because they are under the category of luxury items and I can tell you as a new mom, diapers are not luxury items. These are essential items. So, us four moms came together to solve this problem for families across Colorado," said Sen. Brittany Pettersen, a Democrat representing Lakewood.

Pettersen says the need for diapers rose three fold during the pandemic and cloth diapers aren't an option for many moms because most laundry mats don't allow cloth diapers.