FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Catherine Lynott

Executive Director

Grant will fund new distribution space and diapers, positioning The Outreach House to help solve the "diaper or dinner" dilemma many local families face.

LOMBARD, IL August 18, 2026 – The Outreach House (TOH) announced today it has been awarded a $163,000 grant supported by the DuPage Community Transformation Partnership, a collaboration between DuPage County and DuPage Foundation. The grant will fund the expansion of TOH’s First Things First Diaper Bank – the only diaper bank operating in DuPage County and one of just ten statewide. 

The grant will fund a 3,200 square-foot expansion connected to TOH's existing facility, allowing them to create a dedicated space to receive, store, and distribute diapers not only to the families TOH serves directly, but to partner nonprofits across DuPage County. TOH already distributes more than 200,000 diapers annually to its own guests. This expansion lays the groundwork for a countywide distribution network reaching families through food pantries and community organizations already in their neighborhoods.

Executive Director, Catherine Lynott, noted, “This grant is truly transformative for our organization and, more importantly, for the families and children we serve. We are profoundly grateful for this investment, which will allow us to expand our space and prepare to become the first diaper bank in DuPage County. No parent should ever have to choose between putting dinner on the table and having clean diapers for their baby. This support brings us one step closer to ensuring that every family has access to this basic necessity, so parents can focus on what matters most, including providing healthy and nutritious food to allow children to reach their full potential. We believe every family deserves the dignity of meeting their children’s most basic needs, and we’re honored to have partners who support our mission.”

Addressing an Urgent, Underrecognized Need

TOH joined the National Diaper Bank Network in 2023 and has since built the county's only dependable, ongoing diaper distribution program known as First Things First. This grant will allow the organization to formalize partnerships with other DuPage nonprofits and extend consistent diaper access to families beyond TOH's own facility.

Nearly half of families with young children in DuPage County struggle to keep an adequate supply of diapers on hand, according to the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN).The NDBN estimates that over 7 million diapers are needed to meet diaper insecurity in DuPage. Diapers can cost families $100/month for each child (an expense not covered by SNAP or WIC benefits), forcing families to cut back on basic needs including food. Without a reliable diaper supply, many parents cannot leave their children at licensed childcare, resulting in missed work, lost income, and increased stress on the entire family. NDBN reports that diaper insecurity is closely linked to food-insecurity, missing work, infant and maternal health and stress. They report “when families receive diapers, more families are able to work or attend school, healthcare spending is reduced, and children are healthier.” (National Diaper Bank Network Diaper Check 2026). With recent changes to SNAP and Medicaid, and families facing increasing financial challenges, TOH First Things First diaper bank expansion is more critical than ever, providing families with essential support when they need it most. 

As a longtime partner in TOH’s mission, DuPage Foundation’s Vice President for Programs, Barb Szczepaniak, said, “No parent should ever have to choose between diapers for their baby and putting food on the table for their family.  We are proud to invest in the creation of this county-wide diaper bank that will support the needs of young DuPage County families, and we’re so excited to see this project come to fruition.”

Rooted in Research

This expansion follows a six-month operational review conducted earlier this year by a team of University of Chicago Booth School of Business Alumni Nonprofit Consultants (BANC), who evaluated TOH's programs, finances, and capacity. Their report, presented to the TOH Board in May 2026, identified the Diaper Bank as the organization's most transformative opportunity to strengthen the broader safety net for DuPage families. 

What's Next

With the grant secured, TOH plans to sign a lease this summer for additional space at 700 Springer Drive in Lombard, complete renovations by mid December, and begin building out diaper storage and distribution infrastructure before receiving its first large-scale diaper shipment later this year.

The First Things First Diaper Bank expansion builds on a period of significant growth for TOH, which moved into a new 15,000 square foot location in July 2025.

###

About The Outreach House

The Outreach House is a DuPage County-based nonprofit providing food, clothing, diapers, and emergency assistance for utilities to neighbors facing hardship. Led by Executive Director Catherine Lynott, TOH partners with individuals, corporations, and foundations across the region to meet essential needs and build a stronger, more resilient community. Learn more at www.theoutreachhouse.org.