I knew caring for and raising a baby would be expensive in every sense of the word – financially, emotionally, mentally. I knew my relationship to time and rest would look different. What I wasn’t prepared for was the toll that postpartum would take on me, even as someone with access to most of the resources we need to raise our children comfortably. In those early postpartum days, I found myself staring at other mothers and families, wondering what they were really thinking and feeling internally. Were they happy? Were they getting any sleep? Were they struggling to feed their baby and create any sort of identity outside of being a mother? I still wonder how anyone manages to care for themselves and their families without access to our most basic human needs.

A few weeks, if not days, into my postpartum journey, I became painfully aware of how expensive baby products are – and diapers in particular. I was confused about how something so necessary for a baby’s well being could be so unbelievably inaccessible to most families. I looked into the resources for families across North Carolina, and found that to receive diapers from most diaper banks and organizations you had to be connected to an existing organization. Even if you were, most entities only handed out a handful of diapers per family at a time. There were no organizations providing enough diapers to sustain a family’s monthly needs.

When I learned that a family might be turned away from daycare or other childcare options due to not being able to provide diapers, I committed to making sure that Black families in the area could access diapers if needed. There would be no specific requirements other than being a Black family living or working in Durham County, North Carolina. Diapers for Black Durham was birthed in early 2021, just a few months after my son. The focus was on Durham both because of my generational connection to the land here, as well as the intense gentrification occurring across the area. What was once a historically Black city is becoming a metropolis inundated with white and wealthy families. Yet, Durham remains the home to so many Black people, families and organizers who are committed to preserving the deep beauty, history and authenticity of the city.

Today, Diapers for Black Durham functions as a mutual aid fund providing free diapers, wipes and now breastfeeding and lactation support for Black families in Durham. Generous donations continue to come in from organizations like Triangle Abortion Access Coalition, though most of the work is sustained through monthly donations via Patreon. As of October 2024, around 300 families have received diapers since the birth of the fund, with close to $20,000 raised.

A challenging part of this work is knowing that no one should have to struggle to provide our children with their basic necessities. I fully believe that diapers and all items required to raise our children safely should be publicly funded. The joy and connection I find through this work comes from meeting new families like myself who are stumbling through motherhood with a commitment to do right by our past and future generations. While I initially started Diapers for Black Durham to meet a specific need, I also knew I needed connection with other mamas to make sense of the terrifying and beautiful world in which we are mothering.

My hope is to continue sustaining this fund for as long as it is necessary. To become a monthly sustainer, please navigate here. Individual donations can be sent to @mayakhart via Venmo. Follow us on Instagram @blackdurhamdiapers to learn more!