HappyBottoms, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is Kansas City's diaper bank. Our mission is simple: to work with social service agency partners to provide diapers to low-income families while raising awareness of diaper need in our community. An estimated 23,000 children in the Kansas City area are living in poverty and lack access to an adequate diaper supply. Since diapers are not covered by public assistance programs (such as food stamps or WIC), the cost of diapers is an out-of-pocket expense for families. The result? Parents may find themselves forced to choose between buying diapers or paying the rent /bills, and some babies are forced to spend extended periods, sometimes days, in the same soiled diaper. How does HappyBottoms help? We distribute diapers to families in the KC area through our partner agencies; places like Operation Breakthrough, Catholic Charities, Hope House and many others. You can help support the work of HappyBottoms, and here’s how: ■ Make a one-time or ongoing monetary donation at our website. ■ Designate your United Way contributions to HappyBottoms. ■ Host a diaper or change drive. ■ Volunteer at our warehouse to wrap diapers and prepare them for distribution to families. ■ Become a corporate or civic group sponsor. Want to learn more about HappyBottoms? Visit us at www.happybottoms.org.