Quick Answers
Wake County: Diaper Train, 1812 Tillery Place, Raleigh. Every four weeks. You need a referral first and must live in Wake County.
Wake, Johnston and Franklin counties: Catholic Parish Outreach, 2013 Raleigh Blvd. No referral. Diapers and wipes once every 30 days, "based on donations."
Durham County: Urban Ministries of Durham, once every 30 days, no appointment. Welcome Baby's Giving Closet is by appointment, every other month.
Orange and Chatham: Orange County DSS is on the Diaper Bank's open-partner list. Chatham has Ch.A.M.P.S.
WIC and SNAP do not pay for diapers.
Not sure where to start? Dial 2-1-1.How the diaper bank system works
Two diaper banks work here, in different ways.
The Diaper Bank of North Carolina (its mailing address is in Hillsborough) is not a place you can pick up diapers. Its site says: "we do not directly provide diapers to families, nor do we offer referrals." It supplies more than 145 partner organizations statewide, in two kinds:
Open partners. Anyone living in that county can get products once a month.
Closed partners. You must already be a client of that program, such as Early Head Start, a clinic or a home-visiting program.It says only some partners give emergency diapers on a walk-in basis. Its "Essentials Hub" delivers to high-need communities, but the page lists no stops or dates. It has cloth diapers "available to families who request them."
Diaper Train, formerly Saint Saviour's Center, serves Wake County only. It gives diapers straight to families who have a referral, and it stocks more than 20 partner agencies. You cannot use both routes at once.
Wake County
Diaper Train (Raleigh)
What you get: diapers, wipes and a book for each child, every four weeks: 30 to 100 diapers per child, depending on size. Youth and adult sizes too. No cost.
How: you must live in Wake County. A partner agency sends a referral online and you get a text. Then you come during program hours. It is not an appointment.
When: Tuesdays 9 a.m.–noon, Wednesdays 3–5:30 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m.–noon, and the second Saturday of the month 9 a.m.–noon.
Where: 1812 Tillery Place, Suite 100, Raleigh. You stay in your car and volunteers come to you.
Bring: photo ID, proof you live in Wake County, diaper sizes and your children's birth dates.
Phone: (919) 833-6400. A friend can pick up for you with a picture of your ID.Who can refer you: Diaper Train's partial list includes Wake County WIC, WCPSS, WakeMed, UNC Health, Duke Health, several pediatric practices, Wake Connections/Smart Start, Telamon Early Head Start, the Salvation Army and Garner Area Ministries. Ask whichever one you already use.
Catholic Parish Outreach (Raleigh)
Where: 2013 Raleigh Blvd., Raleigh. (919) 873-0245.
When: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m.–noon. Closed Tuesdays. Open some Saturdays; check its pantry schedule.
Who: families from Wake, Johnston and Franklin counties. "No referral needed."
What: diapers and wipes, baby food and formula, once every 30 days. "Availability based on donations." Also children's clothing up to 6T. The Diaper Bank lists period products here too.
Its page does not say what to bring. Call first.NeighborUp (Cary and Apex), formerly Dorcas Ministries and Western Wake Crisis Ministry, is a Diaper Train referral partner. Its Cary pantry asks donors for diapers, but its site does not say how they are given out. Call Cary at (919) 469-9861 or Apex at (919) 362-0657.
Note in the Pocket is a clothing program, not a diaper source. See free and cheap kids' clothes.
Durham County
Urban Ministries of Durham
Where: 410 Liberty Street, Durham. (919) 682-0538.
What: diapers once every 30 days. No appointment.
Bring: photo ID for you, ID with a birth date for your child (a birth certificate or insurance card works), and proof you live in Durham County, such as a bill, WIC voucher or driver's license.
Hours: its page gives no clear diaper pickup time. Call before you go.Welcome Baby Giving Closet
Where: 721 Foster Street, Durham. (919) 560-7150.
Who: Durham County parents and caregivers of children 0 to 5. You verify your address once a year.
What: diapers, wipes, baby toiletries, clothing and gear. Free, and based on donations.
How: by appointment only, once every other month. Request one at welcomebaby.org.Durham Community Food Pantry, 2020 Chapel Hill Rd., Suite 30, (919) 286-1964, is open Wednesdays 10 a.m.–1 p.m. and 5–7 p.m., and Thursdays 10 a.m.–1 p.m. The Diaper Bank lists it as an open partner for Durham, Orange and Chatham. The pantry's own page covers food only, so ask about diapers.
Period products: the Diaper Bank's Free Period Pantry is at Braggtown Baptist Church, 3218 N. Roxboro St. Pads and tampons. "No forms, no appointments."
Closed partners in Durham include Durham Early Head Start, Family Connects, Healthy Families Durham and Lincoln Community Health Center. If you are enrolled, ask your worker.
Orange and Chatham counties
Orange County DSS. An open partner for Orange County residents, per the Diaper Bank. Offices at 113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough, and 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. The county's page does not explain diaper pickup. Call (919) 245-2800.
Pregnancy Support Services (Chapel Hill). A faith-based pregnancy center at 1777 Fordham Blvd., Suite 203. After a first appointment, clients shop a free closet once a month for diapers, wipes and clothing, through the baby's first year. (919) 490-0203.
IFC Community Market (Carrboro). Hygiene items at no cost, by appointment, for Chapel Hill and Carrboro households. Its page does not name diapers. (919) 929-6380.
Ch.A.M.P.S. (Chatham). The Chatham County Partnership for Children gives free diapers, wipes and hygiene products to Chatham families with young children. Its page lists no hours or rules. Call (984) 214-2407 or the office at 919-542-7449.If you need diapers today
1.Durham County: call Urban Ministries of Durham. No appointment is needed.
2.Wake, Johnston or Franklin: go to Catholic Parish Outreach on its next open morning.
3.Wake County: ask your WIC or pediatric office to send a Diaper Train referral.
4.Dial 2-1-1 or 1-888-892-1162. NC 211 is free and confidential.
Call before you drive. More help: free and low-cost family resources.
What WIC and SNAP do and don't cover
SNAP: USDA says households cannot use SNAP for "any nonfood items," including "hygiene items."
WIC: North Carolina lists what WIC provides as healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and community referrals. Diapers are not on the list.
WIC can still refer you. Wake County WIC is on Diaper Train's referral list.
Medicaid: NC Medicaid covers diapers only from age three, for someone "incontinent due to disease, illness or injury," with a prescription. Ask your child's doctor.Want to give instead?
Buy the big sizes. Diaper Train's most urgent needs are sizes 4, 5 and 6, pull-ups in 3T/4T and 4T/5T, and wipes. It takes opened diaper packs and has a 24/7 outdoor donation box.
Host a drive. Diaper Train has a toolkit; email diaperdrives@diapertrain.org.
Drop a pack at a Diaper Bank "Hotspot," such as Once Upon A Child in Raleigh, Cary or Durham.Bringing kids along? See volunteering with kids by age.
The Bottom Line
In Wake County, get a referral for Diaper Train, or go to Catholic Parish Outreach without one. In Durham, start with Urban Ministries of Durham or Welcome Baby. In Orange and Chatham, call first. Supplies depend on donations, so confirm before you go.
