$25,000 grant supports diaper access for area families

April 17, 2026

By La Crosse Community Foundation

La Crosse Area Community Foundation has awarded a $25,212 grant to The Parenting Place to support its community diaper bank, helping meet a growing and urgent need among families across the Coulee Region.

The grant comes as demand for diapers continues to rise. Nationally, one in two families with young children struggles to afford enough diapers, and locally, hundreds of families rely on The Parenting Place each year for support. In 2024 alone, the organization served 860 families through more than 6,000 visits, distributing more than twice as many diapers as it did just a few years ago and still falling short of meeting the need.

“This is a need we’re seeing grow in real time,” said Amber Brantner, parent educator at The Parenting Place. “Families are coming to us more often and staying longer because the cost of essentials continues to climb. Diapers aren’t something you can go without — and when families can’t access them, it affects a child’s health and a parent’s ability to work or attend school. Most child care providers require families to supply diapers each day, so without them, children may not be able to stay in care.”

The Parenting Place has provided diapers to local families since 1990 and formalized its diaper bank in 2019. Today, it remains the only organization in the region offering this service at scale.

The grant from La Crosse Area Community Foundation is part of its broader effort to respond to immediate needs while strengthening long-term community connections.

“Access to basic needs like diapers shouldn’t depend on a family’s circumstances,” said Chad Dull, CEO of La Crosse Area Community Foundation. “This is a simple but important way we can help close a gap, ensuring that every child has what they need for a healthy start, and every parent has a fair shot at providing it.”

The impact of the grant will be visible immediately. As part of a community-driven effort to expand support, Kristen Stavlo of 3RT Networks recently organized a workplace diaper drive, collecting a large donation that she delivered to The Parenting Place today.

“What started as a simple idea at work quickly turned into something much bigger,” said Stavlo. “People want to help. They just need to know where the need is. If sharing what we did encourages even one more business, church, or group to host a drive, it can make a real difference for families right here in our community.”

Community members and organizations can get involved by hosting diaper drives, making financial contributions, or donating directly to The Parenting Place diaper bank. Even small efforts can have a meaningful impact when combined across the community.