April/May Update
Hello friends,
At our latest event, a woman came up and asked if she could pick up diapers for her neighbor. He had just had a child placed with him in an emergency foster situation and wasn't able to make it to the distribution himself.
That moment has stuck with me. When we started the diaper bank, I expected to meet parents who needed support. What I didn't expect was to see so many people showing up for each other. Neighbors helping neighbors. Friends sharing resources. People looking out for families they may not even know very well.
We also had more men show up than at any previous event. As someone who wants SonderNest to be a place for all kinds of families and caregivers, that felt significant.
One man told me he was on his third round of fostering. We even ended up chatting for a while about the support groups we're planning.
It's easy to picture parenting spaces being filled mostly with moms, but the families we serve look all kinds of different ways. Moms, dads, foster parents, grandparents, step-parents, kinship caregivers, and so many others are doing the hard work of raising kids every day. Seeing that reflected at our distribution events has been one of my favorite surprises so far.
The support from all of you continues to blow me away. Whether you've donated, shared a post, told a friend about us, or simply cheered us on from the sidelines, thank you for being part of this.
With love,
Skyler Haupt
Executive Director & Founder
By the Numbers
7,569 Total Diapers Distributed
218 Families Served
3 Community Distribution Events Held
What We Recently Accomplished
In April, SonderNest held its first community diaper distribution event in Canby and distributed 1,075 diapers to local families. Earlier this month, we returned to Canby for a second event and distributed another 1,325 diapers.
We also just purchased our second pallet of 10,000 diapers plus wipes. Thanks to that purchase, we're now able to offer sizes 4 and 6 in addition to the sizes we already carried. Families had been asking for those larger sizes, and it feels good to finally be able to say yes.
In addition to our public distributions, SonderNest delivered 2,000 diapers this month to A Safe Place Family Justice Center to help support families rebuilding after domestic violence.
Coming Soon at SonderNest
We're excited to share the dates for our next community diaper distributions:
Canby Community Distribution: June 17 | 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Oregon City Community Distribution: June 18 | 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Registration information and event details will be shared in a separate email a few days prior to the events.
We're also moving forward with plans for support groups for parents and caregivers this summer.
Parenting can feel isolating sometimes, especially during the harder seasons. We're hoping these groups become a place where parents and caregivers can connect, share ideas, ask questions, and learn from one another.
Before we finalize the format, we'd love your input. What would actually be useful? What would make you want to attend?
Educational Corner
This month, we published our first blog post:
The First Three Months: Early Milestones, What's Normal, and What to Watch For
It covers early infant development, what caregivers can generally expect during those first few months, and signs that may be worth bringing up with a pediatrician.
If you know a new parent who's wondering, "Is this normal?" ten times a day, feel free to send this their way.
Help Us Keep This Work Going
Next month, we're launching our first Oregon City distribution event, which means reaching more families and keeping more diapers on the shelves.
Every dollar donated goes directly toward diaper inventory for families across Clackamas County. If you'd like to help make that possible:
About SonderNest
The SonderNest Collective is a nonprofit based in Oregon City serving families across Clackamas County. Through diaper distribution, essential care packages, and parent education programs, SonderNest works to ensure families have access to the resources and support they need during challenging seasons.
