News

Share Our Spare joins families across Chicago, and around the world, in mourning the loss of Dolly Parton.
As Chicago’s affiliate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, we’ve seen firsthand what her vision built and how many children have benefited from the radical idea that every child, regardless of zip code or income, deserves a book of their own. More than 332 million since 1995 across five countries, with over 3.5 million gifted each month as of June 2026. Locally, across 23 West and South Side communities in Chicago, it has meant thousands of kids growing up as readers before they ever set foot in a classroom.
August 26, 2026

What does Dolly Parton mean to you?
The prolific performer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist Dolly Parton died Tuesday at 80. World leaders and the general public are in mourning.
August 26, 2026
Share Our Spare Launches Baby & Beyond Advocacy Series with Convening on Postpartum Health and Breastfeeding
More than 65 clinicians, state and city officials, community partners, and funders gathered at the Sharehouse on August 19 for the first in a new policy series from Chicago’s largest diaper bank.
August 19, 2026

Presence of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in West Side targets literacy gap
A year into partnering with the “Imagination Library,” Share Our Spare sees positive impact on kids ages 0-5
July 13, 2026

Morning Mix Drive Nets 100K Diapers For Chicago Families
The second annual Morning Mix Diaper Drive with 101.9 The Mix and Huggies collected 100,000 diapers for Chicago families, with Executive Director S. Mayumi ‘Umi’ Grigsby on the impact of diaper need across the city.
July 12, 2026

Building a Network for Diaper Donations with Share Our Spare Chicago
WBBM’s Rob Hart sits down with Umi Grigsby to discuss the challenges families face affording children’s essentials — and how Share Our Spare is building a network with agencies and organizations across Chicago to meet the need.
June 28, 2026

Deep Roots, New Directions
Umi Grigsby joins Chicago Newsroom 2.0 co-hosts Dr. Suzet McKinney and Glenn Eden to share her vision for the future of Share Our Spare, alongside BUILD Inc.’s new leader Bradly Johnson.
June 18, 2026

Sharing and Caring – Diaper Drive Is Set for June 20, Huggies Matches 1 for 1
Nearly one in two Chicagoland families needs help paying for diapers. Huggies partnered with Share Our Spare for a one-for-one matching diaper drive on June 20.
June 14, 2026

Share Our Spare’ help families with baby supplies
CBS News Chicago takes viewers inside the Share Our Spare Sharehouse, where the organization works to provide families in need with diapers and baby supplies.
May 8, 2026

Lil Rel Howrey Hosts Story Time For West Side Kids Thanks To Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
The actor and West Side native known for “Get Out” and “The Angry Birds Movie 2” visited the Nia Family Center. Kids were rapt as he read “Raindrops to Rainbow” and told them jokes.
April 3, 2026

Share Our Spare Appoints S. Mayumi “Umi” Grigsby, Esq. as Executive Director
A respected leader in public service, nonprofit management, and equity-driven systems change, Grigsby will guide the organization’s strategic growth and expand its impact on children and families across the region.
March 16, 2026

Share Our Spare Provides Community Resources
We learn about the continuing great work of Chicago’s Share Our Spare and its quest to find new funding partnerships from executive director Alex Goodfellow.
July 19, 2025

Dollars, Doulas, and Dolly
Bridget Rundquist explains how the Dolly Parton Imagination Library is fostering literacy among Chicago’s youngest readers.
July 10, 2025

The Morning Mix Diaper Drive
Join Chris, Nikki, and Whip from The Morning Mix – Saturday, June 7th, for the first-ever Morning Mix Diaper Drive presented by Huggies!
June 7, 2025

Get Free Books for Your Child — Every Month from Birth to Age 5!
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a free book gifting program that delivers high-quality books to children from birth to age five. Here’s how to enroll.
May 14, 2025

Making A Difference: Volunteer With Violeta
Volunteer With Violeta highlights nonprofit organizations in order to support families with young children.
Feb 2025

This NW Side Nonprofit Gets Diapers And Baby Items To Families Who Need Them Most
Share Our Spare recently won an environmental stewardship award and a $10,000 grant for its work diverting items from landfills while helping families in need.
Dec 27, 2024

Revolution Brewing Collecting Diapers For Families In Need Friday
The brewery’s Avondale taproom will treat customers who donate an unopened pack of diapers to a free beer. Donations will benefit the nonprofit Share Our Spare.
Dec 11, 2024

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Announces Programs and Partners to Improve Maternal and Infant Health Statewide
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois today announced funding for more than two dozen organizations working to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies across Illinois.
Oct 15, 2024

Public Interest Registry Unveils Winners of 6th Annual .ORG Impact Awards at DC Ceremony Hosted by Emmy Winner Alan Cumming
Share Our Spare awarded Environmental Stewardship. Donation Amount: $10,000
Oct 9, 2024

Share Our Spare hosts ‘Christmas in July’ drive to support Chicago families in need
Share Our Spare, a Chicago nonprofit, is holding a “Christmas in July” drive to collect gently used baby items and winter clothing for families in need, providing essential supplies such as diapers and clothing.
July 1, 2024

Hubbard Chicago | Hubbard Radio
Share Our Spare ensures every Chicago area child, ages 0-5, has the essential items they need to support their health and development and equip them for a strong start. With us this morning to talk more about Share Our Spare and the work they are doing for families with young children in the Chicagoland area is Bridget Rundquist, the Director of Partnerships & Community Engagement for the organization.
June 30, 2024

Share Our Spare helping families as need grows
A local organization is asking for help to meet the urgent need for diapers.
May 12, 2024

The future of journalism, Share Our Spare helping families in Chicago and beyond
Mike Stephen discusses the future of journalism at the Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association conference with Jason Block, multimedia communications teacher at Prospect High School, and learns about the important work of the Chicago-based organization called Share Our Spare. This organization helps families in need and executive director Alex Goodfellow discusses their efforts.
March 23, 2024

Fed rate cuts, Reddit IPO, ‘Diaper Brackets for Good’ challenge
Alex Goodfellow, Executive Director, Share our Spare, tells John about what their non-profit organization does, their mission to help Chicagoland children receive the essentials they need for healthy development, and the upcoming ‘Diaper Brackets for Good’ challenge, the second annual March Madness supply drive that aims to provide diapers for struggling parents with infants in the Chicago area.
March 21, 2024

Diaper Brackets for Good Challenge
Share Our Spare Executive Director Alex Goodfellow talks about the 2nd Annual Diaper Brackets for Good challenge as a way to collect diapers for families in need. One out of every two Chicagoland families is in need of help to pay for diapers.
March 15, 2024

Nonprofit ‘Share Our Spare’ aims to get Chicagoans the diapers they need
Diapers are a considerable expense but necessary for any family with a new baby or toddler. It’s a need that the nonprofit ‘Share Our Spare’ is trying to fill.
March 15, 2024

Families struggle to afford diapers
CNBC’s Perry Russom joins Shep Smith to report on why families around the country are struggling to afford diapers for their kids.
December 20, 2021

Diapers are constant, costly and not covered by assistance programs. Here’s how to donate during the holidays
One in three families have reported not having enough diapers, according to the National Diaper Bank Network. Babies need up to 12 diapers a day; toddlers use eight, according to the National Diaper Bank Network, which also reports their diaper banks saw an 86% increase in the numbers of diapers distributed since the pandemic began.
December 08, 2021

New pilot program supplying millions of diapers to families in need
A new pilot program will supply about six-million diapers over the next year to partners of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
July 27, 2021

Summer Diaper Drive Helps Families in Need
There’s absolutely no doubt babies need diapers – lots and lots of diapers. But this summer, the need has reached a critical point. That’s why Chicago nonprofit, Share Our Spare, has launched its first-ever Summer Diaper Challenge the organization is calling “Do your Duty.” The goal: Collecting 100,000 diapers by July 20. To do it, it needs your help through donations and even hosting neighborhood diaper drives.
June 25, 2020

Share Our Spare Kicks Off Diaper Drive for Families in Need
Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, one in three families struggled to provide clean diapers for their children, according to the National Diaper Bank. Pandemic-related pay-cuts and layoffs have only exacerbated this challenge. In an effort to have an immediate impact on this critical need, Chicago-based nonprofit Share Our Spare launched the Summer Diaper Challenge, “Do Your Duty,” with the goal of raising 100,000 diapers by July 20. They are enlisting the support of local Ambassadors to help them meet this time-sensitive goal.
June 25, 2020

Mayor Lightfoot Announces Call to Action to Ensure Caregivers Have Access to Essential Baby Items
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today announced a call to action for Chicagoans – residents and corporations alike – to donate essential baby items including diapers, wipes and formula to support communities most adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as additional recent events. Local nonprofit organization, Share Our Spare, will serve as a centralized donation hub for diapers, wipes and formula that will be distributed to community sites across North Lawndale, Auburn Gresham, Belmont Cragin, Austin, Pilsen, Roseland, and South Shore with an opportunity to expand into other communities as the supply is acquired.
June 12, 2020

Chicago Non-Profit Handing Out Supplies to Families in Need With Young Children
The Coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on most households, but social service agencies say less-privileged young families have been hit especially hard.
April 30, 2020

Share Our Spare Aims to Help Parents In Need
“Share Our Spare” is an organization dedicated to helping families with the stressful and challenging endeavor of raising children. NBC 5’s Anayeli Ruiz has the story.
May 3, 2018

Local Organization Collecting Donated Diapers, Baby Items for People in Need
In Illinois, the National Diaper Bank Network says 23 percent of children under the age of three live below the federal poverty line.
Which means, some parents are forced to make difficult decisions every day between paying rent, putting food on the table or buying basic necessities. This is where organizations like “Share our Spare” step in, a local non-profit tackling this issue.
September 24, 2018

Share Our Spare Collects Items for Families with Young Children
Seven years ago, a group of moms with items to spare created Share Our Spare. The group’s mission is to collect items to help families with young children. This year, they’ll serve 10,000 children of families from 35 social service agencies. They rely on donations including clothing, books and toys, but most importantly, diapers and wipes. Items can be dropped off Tuesdays and Thursdays and some weekends at 935 W. Chestnut.
November 19, 2018












