Essentials Care Pantry
We are excited to launch a vital new resource for Moore County families, offering essential items such as diapers, pull-ups, wipes, and cycle care supplies—all free of charge!
We invite you to stop by our office the 3rd Thursday of each month from 4pm-7pm to explore our services and learn how the pantry will support families in need. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or community member, this is a wonderful opportunity to connect, gather helpful resources, and ensure your family's needs are met.
One in every two families struggles to afford diapers.
Even after working two or three jobs, many parents are faced with the stress, guilt, and desperation of not being able to afford a healthy supply of diapers. Families attempt to make diapers last as long as possible, which can mean that their babies and toddlers spend the entire day in a single diaper, causing discomfort and even leading to infections.
Public safety net programs, such as WIC and SNAP (previously known as Food Stamps) do not cover the purchase of diapers, leaving many families with the difficult choice of buying diapers or other necessities with their limited funds. Most daycare centers require a day’s worth of diapers, creating yet another challenge to achieving self-sufficiency that low-income working families face.
1 in 4 Teens and 1 in 3 Menstruating Adults Struggle to Purchase Period Products Due to Lack of Income.
Awareness has grown globally about menstruating individuals struggling because they lack period products. Far less recognized is the impact of this issue right in our own community. A significant portion of low-income menstruating individuals in North Carolina do not have affordable access to the products they need each month.
As with other hygiene products not covered by government programs such as WIC and SNAP (food stamps), menstruating individuals must make difficult trade-offs to cope with the expense of menstrual pads and tampons. They skip rent payments or go without groceries. They use fewer products at the expense of health and hygiene. They substitute by using toilet paper to line their underwear and then worry about embarrassing accidents.
The inability to afford personal essentials increases emotional stress and stigma. It drives menstruating individuals to miss school, work, or social engagements. Above all, it challenges their sense of personal dignity.
