It’s All About Support
Heart of Ohio Diaper Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that organizes drives, secures drop box locations, raises funds, and assembles, stores, and distributes diapers, wipes, period products and adult briefs through Community Distribution Site Partners. Our vision is to alleviate diaper need and period poverty in addition to supporting adults with incontinence in the communities we serve. Our Community Distribution Partners are food pantries, health departments, faith-based organizations, and family service agencies.
Started in the home of founder Shannon Hexamer in 2018, the organization is led and run by volunteers working toward a cause they believe in…to keep babies clean, dry, happy, and healthy.
HER Project, an initiative dedicated to Helping Educate and Reducing Period Poverty, was launched in 2023. The project's mission is to ensure that females have access to essential period supplies, enabling them to continue their daily activities without interruption.
In September 2023, Her Project partnered with the Stark County Educational Service Center (SCESC) to expand its reach. This collaboration aimed to provide period products to schools across several counties, including all Stark County Schools, Dalton Local Schools in Wayne County, Carrollton Exempted Village Schools and Brown Local Schools in Carroll County, Strasburg Local Schools in Tuscarawas County, and Green Local Schools in Summit County. This initiative strives to support and empower young women by addressing period poverty.
Our Impact
The diapers provided by the Heart of Ohio Diaper Bank offer needed emotional and financial stress relief for babies and families; allowing parents to focus on raising happy, healthy kids.
Many families must decide whether to purchase basic essential needs or diapers. Without diapers, babies cannot go to childcare or participate in early childhood education. Without childcare, many parents cannot go to work or school. When babies are uncomfortable, they cry more which often leads to tension in the home and less nurturing.
Helping babies is just part of what we do! Our Impact helps teenage girls and women with menstrual supplies and adults with incontinence.
DIAPERS DISTRIBUTED TO DATE: 1,416,745*
WIPES DISTRIBUTED TO DATE: 12,336*
PERIOD PACKS DISTRIBUTED TO DATE: 3,240*
ADULT BRIEFS DISTRIBUTED TO DATE: 12,245*
NUMBER OF COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS: 25
NUMBER OF CLIENT DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS: 3
COUNTIES SERVED: 7
Stark, Carroll, Harrison, Medina, Summit, Tuscarawas, Wayne
OUR IMPACT: Over 1,000 babies a month receive
Heart of Ohio Diaper Bank diapers*Number updated through July 30,2024
Changing babies changes lives
For families living in poverty, diaper need has a negative ripple effect.
Without an adequate supply of diapers, babies can’t participate in childcare. If parents don’t have consistent childcare, they cannot work. Without a job, they can’t afford to pay rent and provide for their family.
Our Supporters
We are so thankful for our amazing community partners and supporters contributing over $5,000.
Ada C. and Helen J. Rank
Akron / Canton Food Bank
Akron Children's Health Center, Timken Foundation Building
Aultman Hospital
Barb Minney Schweier / The Minney Group
Barnhart Crane & Rigging
BellStores
Canton City Public Health
Friend of Heart of Ohio Diaper Bank
Gessner Family Foundation
Gary & Cheryl Prather
Health Foundation of Greater Massillon
Hensel Foundation / Chris & Chrissie Hensel
Huntington Bank
Kirt and Nancy Utterback
Meijer
Melany Minney
Ohio Department of Health
Once Upon A Child Canton
Pamela Burkhardt
Paul & Carol David Foundation
Robert & Nancy Gessner Charitable Fund
Sam’s Club / Canton
Sam’s Club / Cuyahoga Falls
Shannon English Hexamer
St. Michael’s Catholic Church
Stan R. Arner and Nancy A. Arner Charitable Foundation
The Christ Foundation
TomTreyCo McDonald’s
William & Ginny Post
Our Board
Shannon English Hexamer, Board Chair
Owner, Shannon English Marketing
330.806.9278 shannon@shannonenglishmarketing.com
Heather Weaver, Board Vice Chair
Site & Programs Manager, Catholic Charities Serving Stark County
330.491.0896, Ext. 102 heather.weaver@catholiccharitiesps.org
Barb Minney Schweier, Board Secretary
President, The Minney Group
330.491.0464
barbms@minneygroup.com
Bob Fay, CPA, PFS, CGMA,
Board Treasurer
Owner, Bob Fay, CPA
330.492.7245
bobfaycpa@juno.com
Amy Weisbrod
Executive Director of the
Shipley Health Clinic
330.453-3386
amygene78@gmail.com
Tonya S. Foutty
Staff Accountant Brewster IGA
Director of Marketing Freshway Inc.
330.983.6004
Didda12003@gmail.com
Courtney Halter
Director of Operations, Downtown Canton Partnership/Special Improvement District
330-327-7776
courtneyhalter13@gmail.com or
chalter@cantonsid.org
Cindy Samolczyk
Community Volunteer
330.705.3591
csamolczyk@gmail.com