LA CROSSE (WKBT) — Inflation affects all parts of our lives, and it is hitting some young families particularly hard as diaper prices rise above what they can afford.

“When finances, income and inflation play into that, it’s even harder on those young families,” said Jenni Loging, the city of La Crosse’s WIC director.

Agencies like WIC help alleviate the stress of nutrition costs.

“Knowing that they’ll be able to feed their children healthy foods really is important,” Loging said.

But nutrition costs are just one financial stressor.

“It is kind of a struggle raising two kids, one in diapers and one in pull-ups,” said Vanessa Wagner, an area parent.

One in three Wisconsin families struggle to provide clean diapers for their babies, according to the National Diaper Bank Network.

“As any young family knows, diapers are an essential need,” said Kassie Miller, the fund development director for The Parenting Place.

Inflated costs are straining families’ budgets.

“It affects just savings on a paycheck basis– it’s definitely more difficult,” said Kyle Newman, an area parent.

“Families could easily spend over $180 per kid, per month just on diapers alone,” Miller said.

WIC and other government programs don’t offer diaper assistance, but diaper banks, like this one offered by the Parenting Place, do.

The Parenting Place distributes diapers in Tomah, Sparta and La Crosse every week.

The cost of diapers continue to rise– Miller says a box of about this size can cost a family $55 at Sam’s Club. And that’s just one location.

Diaper banks are helping to fill the gap.

“We are just here to be a support in our community and alleviate some of that parental stress,” Miller said.

The resource has been available in the La Crosse area for awhile, and its reach is only growing.

“Just between January and July of this year, we have increased our distribution of 16,000 diapers as compared to last year,” Miller said.

That adds up to 84,600 diapers for 146 individual families.

If you are in need of diapers you can contact The Parenting Place– no questions asked.

They also accept donations of both opened and unopened packages. More information can be found on its website.

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