ASHLAND – Parents and caregivers are invited to receive free diapers each month through the Ashland Diaper Pantry, a new community resource designed to ease the financial burden on families.
By providing diapers at no cost, the pantry helps ensure that children have their basic needs met while supporting parents in maintaining stability and well-being.
The diaper pantry is located at Christ United Methodist Church, 1140 Claremont Ave., Ashland. The pantry will open for the first time on Monday, Jan. 26, from 6 to 7 p.m., and will continue to serve families on the fourth Monday of every month.
On distribution nights, parents can drive through the church’s parking lot, complete a short form with their children’s diaper sizes, and a volunteer will bring the diapers to their vehicle.
Parents can receive 40 diapers (sizes newborn to 6) and a pack of wipes per child. To ensure smooth traffic flow, families are asked to arrive no earlier than 5:55 p.m. for distribution.
The Ashland Diaper Pantry is the second initiative launched by Lydia Dennin, MSW, LSW, a clinical therapist at The Village Network at Shelby Schools, who started the first pantry in Shelby in 2021. Dennin’s vision is rooted in both research and personal experience.
“I wanted to start diaper pantries in local communities to help alleviate the stress on parents with infants,” Dennin said. “Having been a struggling mom at one point in the past, I know how helpful it can be for local resources to be easily accessible.
“That is what I hope the diaper pantries are for the communities in which I am able to start them. My hope is to continue to plant diaper pantries in other communities in Ohio.”
Research from the National Diaper Bank Network (2026) shows that alleviating diaper need has far-reaching benefits: parents can take children to daycare and maintain employment, children experience better health outcomes, and families report fewer mental health challenges.
The Ashland Diaper Pantry is a ministry of Christ UMC and operates under the church’s 501(c)3 status.
“Lydia shared her research and her successful experience with the Shelby Diaper Pantry,” said Angie Cirone, Christ UMC Diaper Pantry Coordinator. “Her insight inspired us to take action.
“We’ve been looking for ways to create meaningful community outreach, and the diaper pantry fits well with our mission to love our neighbors.”
The Ashland Diaper Pantry committee members expressed appreciation for the support received from the church and community members and said they are looking forward to opening this month.
“Christ UMC welcomes the support of the entire Ashland community in this new initiative,” said Rev. Mar Bruner, Lead Pastor. “It is our sincere hope and prayer that the Ashland Diaper Pantry will grow into a community-wide entity over time.”
The Ashland Diaper Pantry relies on community support to keep families supplied. Donations of diapers and wipes are accepted at Christ United Methodist Church during office hours, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For convenience, an Amazon Wishlist is available featuring the diaper sizes most needed by local families.
Those interested in volunteering can contact the pantry through its Facebook page. Volunteers play a vital role in distribution nights by helping the pantry serve as many families as possible.
About the Ashland Diaper Pantry
The Ashland Diaper Pantry is a ministry of Christ United Methodist Church and operates under its 501(c)3 status. Our mission is to support and empower families by helping meet essential Diapering needs with dignity and care.