We are MOD and we believe:
Diapers are a human right
Diapers are not a privilege. Just like having food or clean water, diapers are a necessity for the healthy development of babies. The fact that 1 in 2 children do not have access to diapers1 creates inequity in our society. All children deserve a fair start to life.
Diapers are disproportionately expensive
Diapers are exorbitantly expensive for low income families. The true cost of diapers is much higher for those living near the poverty line. For some families, diapers can account for 14% of post-tax income.2
Families deserve dignity to thrive
Families in need of diapers face embarrassment, stigma and constraints. We seek to remove the stigma by creating a solution full of dignity and respect that also amplifies the voices of families and celebrates their resiliency.
The long-term solution is not a hand out
Current nonprofits provide important and immediate relief, but not a long term solution. Parents and caregivers want to be able to provide for their children, but current price barriers and lack of access prevent them from doing so. Creating pathways for families to afford basic goods like diapers reduces dependency on government programs and drives economic growth.
Status quo needs innovation and disruption
The current antiquated system of support is in need of innovation and disruption. Our solution will challenge the way we have historically helped those in need and provide a new model for nonprofits of the future.
It takes a village
We must come together to end diaper need in the US. It is a complex public problem without a public solution. Participation is needed from the industry, government, private philanthropy and the public at large. Together we can improve child safety, maternal mental health, parenting behavior, child development and education.
Kadens Family Foundation
For over a decade, Amy Kadens has worked to make an impact on communities and families experiencing hardship. In 2011, as a new mom living in Chicago, Amy co-founded Share Our Spare to ensure that every child in the city would have the essential supplies they need to thrive in the first five years of life. This seed of an idea has grown into an established nonprofit organization, one that has distributed more than 10 million items through over 70 local partner agencies.
In addition to serving as the chairwoman of the Kadens Family Foundation, whose mission is to ignite pathways out of poverty, she is an advisory council member for the Chicago Department of Public Health’s Family Connects program. In 2023, Kadens founded MOD Collective to empower families to provide for their children and promote healthy child development by alleviating the financial burden of diapers.
A NOD TO MOD: The precursor to the disposable diaper was invented by Marion O. Donovan, a pioneer of over 20 products. Her innovation not only solved an immediate problem, but empowered caregivers with cleaner conditions and more time for other tasks. By using Marion’s initials, MOD Collective honors her intrepid approach to solving big problems.
Pilot Organization & Partners
(1)
National Diaper Bank Network (2023). “The NDBN Diaper Check 2023: Diaper Insecurity among U.S. Children and Families, National Diaper Bank Network .”
(2)
Cashman, K. (2015). The hygiene assistance for families of infants and toddlers act will help the poor pay for diapers. Center for Economic and Policy Research.