News

CNBC

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

Chicago Tribune

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

Fox 32

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

Chicago Parent

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

City of Chicago

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

NBC Chicago 5

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

NBC Chicago 5

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

WGN 9

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

WGN Radio

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

Alex Goodfellow

Executive Director

Alex has more than 10 years of nonprofit experience, including five years with The Little Bit Foundation in St. Louis, MO, where she directed the organization’s programming and strategic partnerships and contributed to revenue growth of more than 300%. Prior to SOS, she served as Manager of Corporate Partnerships for One Million Degrees, a Chicago-based nonprofit serving scholars in post-secondary programs. Alex also has experience in domestic violence, as well as youth advocacy. She holds a Master’s in Social Work from the George Warren Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Saint Louis University.

Share Our Spare Bridget Rundquist

Bridget Rundquist

Director of Partnerships and Community Engagement

A native Chicagoan, Bridget is a mission-driven professional with extensive experience serving young people, working in the intersection of education and social work, and building relationships with diverse communities of stakeholders. Bridget holds a Master’s in Social Work from the George Warren Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor’s in History with minors in Education and Psychology from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She spent a semester abroad in Northern Uganda studying Post-Conflict Resolution and has spent several summers in Jerusalem with Project Harmony Israel.

Jesseca Rhymes

Director of Operations and Development

Jesseca began her career with Apartments.com, where she worked directly with property managers and management companies. She also has served as an assistant property manager with Mercy Housing and as the assignments coordinator at DePaul University’s Department of Housing. In 2015, Jesseca founded Never Go Without, which has donated over 50,000 menstruation and incontinence supplies to individuals in need around the Chicago area. She earned her Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management and has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Eastern Illinois University.

Sade Chapman

Operations Coordinator

Sade (they/them) is a community-oriented service industry professional and administrator with a passion for cultivating care through highly personalized experiences. Sade holds a Master’s in Museum Studies from the University of Illinois-Chicago and a Bachelors’ in Anthropology and International Studies from the University of Washington.

Get In Touch

Share Our Spare
3800 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
‭773-657-3117

Share Our Spare Lou

Louis Macmillan

Driver

Louis (Lou) attended Progressive Truck Driving School in Chicago where he received his Class A CDL license. After working at PGT Trucking, he decided to make a change in occupations and started with Share Our Spare in the fall of 2021. Lou says, “I love my job and our mission! I get to deliver essential items for children and meet a lot of new people doing important work throughout the community. I look forward to what’s to come each day!”

Sade Chapman

Operations Coordinator

Sade (they/them) is a community-oriented service industry professional and administrator with a passion for cultivating care through highly personalized experiences. Sade holds a Master’s in Museum Studies from the University of Illinois-Chicago and a Bachelors’ in Anthropology and International Studies from the University of Washington.

Lauren Arbuckle

Program Coordinator

Lauren began her journey as a civic advocate for food insecurity, during her graduate practicum at Columbia College Chicago. Outside her education, she worked as a portraiture photographer and led mental wellness programs for the elderly. The desire to help and preserve individualism in communities has led her towards collaborative work. Her avid background includes media literacy and digital production. She obtained her MA in Civic Media at Columbia College Chicago and BA in Journalism and Multimedia Studies at Roosevelt University.

Bill Ross

Auxiliary Program Coordinator

After spending years working as a cook and organizing live music events, Bill pivoted to a new field joining the Share Our Spare team in January 2022 as an AmeriCorps VISTA. He was hired on as the Auxiliary Program Coordinator at the end of his VISTA term in January 2023.

Bill currently lives in Andersonville with his partner. He enjoys his free time playing video games, biking, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and exploring Chicago’s vast landscape of restaurants. He has a passion for workers’ rights and LGBTQIA+ liberation, and hopes to pursue future opportunities related to queer advocacy and labor equity.

Brian Nunez

Driver

Brian graduated from Dominican University in May 2023 with a B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics. Brian is currently pursuing my M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics with combined internships. Ultimately, Brian wants to become a Registered Dietician and a community nutrition educator. Brian’s hometown is Chicago and he loves how expansive it is. Driving for SOS allows him to explore new parts of the city and suburbs.

Yaya Nelson

Program Coordinator

Yaya is an experienced multimedia professional who is passionate about civic collaboration and immersive media. In 2023, she launched Chicago Moon, a platform created to moonlight the live sets of artist DJs performing throughout the city in various locations. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Film Production from California State University, Sacramento.

Jonathan Jackson

Development Associate

Jonathan is passionate about developing a circular economy across Chicago. He has supported grant/application writing, compliance reporting, and policy and procedure development for social service organizations and non-profit development funds in Chicago and beyond. He has a BA in Psychology and an MA in Industrial Organizational Psychology.

Start Typing