There’s more than one kind of desert.

We all live in one, but diapers?

“This summer we actually experienced drought in incontinence supplies,” Arizona Diaper Bank CEO Yevette Sykes said. 

It’s called the Diaper Bank but what they really give out is incontinence supplies and those important items are not just for babies. Sykes said more and more of their clients, both men and women, are retired and on a fixed income.

We give to food banks, churches and animal shelters, nonprofits and charities of all types. For most of us, incontinence supplies are not top of mind when considering where to donate money, yet the need is real. To educate us, diaper banks around the country are marking National Diaper Need Awareness Week, taking place from Sept. 14-20. Arizona’s goal? To collect 1,000,000 diapers.

Tucson’s own branch of the Arizona Diaper bank, which went nonprofit in 2000, is the first in the nation. The movement grew and now there are more than 225 in the nation.

The bank works with several nonprofit organizations, sharing their incontinence supplies and diapers but also gives out supplies themselves. In addition, they give out wipes and period products.

“We do what we call the complete circle, basically providing for everyone,” Sykes said.

There’s a reason for the increased need and it’s no surprise: cost, especially for seniors.

“What we’re experiencing is we’re having more and more clients that are in need of incontinence supplies that are not covered by Medicare,” she said. (Being) on a fixed income makes it hard.”

The bank disperses 3.4 million diapers a year. That total includes what the bank shares with community partners such as AVIVA, churches, El Rio Health and the Pima County Health Department among them. In all, the bank works with 55 organizations. What they really need to close the “diaper gap” in Pima County. It would take 14 million diapers yearly “to close the diaper gap,” Sykes said. “In Maricopa County, it would take 66 million in Maricopa County and in the state of Arizona, it would take 110 million.”

Donations, grants and fundraising keep the doors open, but they can always use more monetary and supply donations. Still, Sykes said when they are asked, Pima County residents are always ready to give.

“Pima County, we are unique because we’re so giving,” she said. “Every time they hear there’s a need, they show up and I’m proud of Pima County for that.”

Currently, the bank is collecting money; incontinence underwear for both men and women; period supplies such as pads, tampons and cups; wipes and of course, diapers. For information or to donate, visit diaperbank.org.