Why the working poor?
We choose to focus on the working poor because while they are struggling to make ends meet, they have incomes too high to qualify for federal and state subsidies. Many families living in urban areas spend half their wages on housing. Baby Basics hopes to provide a supportive safety net alternative to welfare and the opportunity to succeed. The annual retail cost of diapers for one baby averages more than $800. A family of four earning more than $37,000 a year does not qualify for government assistance, but is still considered to be at the poverty income level. Case Study: Baby Basics has provided a helping hand to Anna’s and Bobby’s mom. She works at a donut chain from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and then goes home to see her children for two hours. She then takes them to a day care center and goes to school as a full time nursing student. She has told us that her goal is to become a doctor and then she will be able to provide diapers for a Baby Basics family.
