Mandarin Oaks Elementary wants 2,000 diapers by Sept. 20, and needs neighbors to help get there.
The Duval County school at 10600 Hornets Nest Road is partnering with the Diaper Bank for Northeast Florida for a weeklong collection drive running Sept. 14-20. The drive coincides with National Diaper Need Awareness Week, organized by the National Diaper Bank Network. This is the 15th year the network has held the observance.
What the School Is Collecting, and Where
The school is accepting diapers in sizes 4, 5 and 6, along with Pull-Ups and baby wipes. Families and community members can drop donations at the school during the drive week, according to the school's announcement.
Diaper Need Affects Nearly Half of US Families
Nearly half of U.S. families struggle to afford enough diapers, according to the network's 2026 Diaper Check report. Federal assistance programs such as the Women, Infants and Children program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program do not cover diapers, the Diaper Bank for Northeast Florida notes on its website.
Local Nonprofit's Reach Across the Region
The Jacksonville-based nonprofit has distributed more than 2 million diapers from 2019 through 2025 and served more than 40,000 babies during that period. It provides about 34,000 diapers a month to roughly 700 babies across the region.
Joanne Samuel Goldblum, CEO of the National Diaper Bank Network, said in a Sept. 10 press release that research shows families with enough diapers are healthier, can access child care so adults can work and attend school, and have more money for food.
Where Families Can Pick Up Diapers Directly
Families who need diapers can also pick them up directly. The Diaper Bank for Northeast Florida operates a distribution site at 5126 Timuquana Road in Jacksonville, open Wednesdays from 9 to 10:45 a.m.
For questions about the Mandarin Oaks drive, call the school at 904-260-5820.
What's coming up in Mandarin:
- Sept. 14-20: Mandarin Oaks Elementary diaper drive, 10600 Hornets Nest Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257.
.jpg)
