Basic Necessities

Mission:
Basic Necessities is a Shreveport-based nonprofit diaper bank, the only located in North La and within 300 miles of Shreveport, that collects and distributes diapers, wipes, and period product supplies at no cost to low-income individuals, families, and organizations in the ArkLaTex.

Historically high poverty rates & low wages among working families make the ArkLaTex particularly vulnerable to diaper need & period poverty.

With access to free diapers & period supplies, children can attend daycare (where diapers are required for attendance) so their parents can go to work, students miss fewer days of school, and families have more money to spend on food and housing. These supplies also prevent unnecessary illnesses, doctor visits, medical expenses, and unsanitary living conditions.

In addition to providing essential supplies to families in need, we provide educational opportunities through "The Parent Talk", Parent ACEs Education, facilitated by the Community Foundation of NLA. We also host Community Baby Showers/Resource Fairs quarterly to allow clients access to multiple community resources and referrals to providers. 

Goals:
• Partnering with more community-based organizations to identify & serve more clients in our region of service,
• Hosting in-person and virtual diaper & period supply drives throughout the year at local businesses, schools, clubs, and places of worship,
• Recruiting more volunteers to host diaper drives and deliver supplies to clients without transportation, and
• Creating sustainable funding partnerships with people in the business & faith communities, charitable foundations, and individual donors.