The percentage of Kalamazoo children living in households that don’t earn enough to support their families.
48%
Almost half of all children in Kalamazoo are part of families earning an income below the ALICE income threshold and struggle to afford the essentials. ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — households that earn less than the basic cost of living for our county.
How It Gets Done
We support our community’s children from birth to adulthood by providing diapers and period products.
The items we distribute come from a mix of donations and bulk purchases. Volunteers unbox, count, and inspect all products for quality before repackaging them into standardized kits: a one-week diaper kit with wipes or a one-month period kit of pads or tampons.
These kits are then delivered to our distribution partners. We carefully select these partners based on specific criteria to ensure they distribute the products equitably, with a focus on reaching BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Why We Do It
Diapers and period supplies are essential for health and well-being, yet various barriers can prevent caregivers and menstruators from accessing these vital products. For BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and immigrant youth and caregivers, these barriers are even more significant.
At Care Collective, we believe that access to basic essentials is a human right. Caregivers deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing their children's needs are met, while menstruators should be able to navigate daily life with minimal shame and discomfort.
