A young mother struggling to make ends meet, cried when she received newborn diapers and wipes. 

One young father stated that he could now purchase the tummy time toy that he desperately wanted for his baby.

Many young parents struggle financially. Being able to access free diapers allows them to purchase food or pay a bill that they weren't sure they'd be able to get to that month.

According to the National Diaper Bank Network, one in two U.S. families are in need of diapers. This means a family cannot afford enough diapers on hand to change their babies at healthy intervals, leading to skin irritation, infections or allergies.

When growing up, Michelle Waters McMullan, ’12, remembers going to Junior League of Savannah meetings with her mom. So, volunteering for the Junior League has always been a big part of her life.

Today, McMullan is president of the volunteer-run organization.

“We were not looking to change from a diaper bank, because we recognize there’s still a need for diapers, she said. “We had to reframe what we do and partner with different community organizations to provide diapers to at-risk families because we work with so many different populations.”

Some organizations they partner with are: Children, Youth and Families Department; Crossroads for Women; Albuquerque Hope Works; Albuquerque Mutual Aid; and United Way.

In 2016, McMullan began her role as director of Care Services with ALS New Mexico—the only non-profit in the state, providing programs and services to people living with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). After a year into her career, she felt something was missing in her life.

“I knew the layout of the city. I had great work friends. And I was making a difference through my profession. But I felt like it was time for me to be a part of something else,” McMullan said. “Then, it was just like the lightbulb went off. I immediately signed up for the Junior League of Albuquerque in fall 2016, and it's worked out perfectly.”

When she joined the Junior League, it had just formed its Community Impact Committee. It was tasked with pinpointing the local community’s greatest need. The committee concluded that local youth, phasing out of Albuquerque’s foster program and having children of their own, needed additional support. Namely, diapers—and a lot of them. 

The Junior League gets frequent feedback from recipients of the diaper program.

“We can't get better if we don't know what's wrong, or what we are doing is good,” McMullan said. “Our clients have relayed positive comments to us through our partners. So, we know we’re making a difference now.”

“When signing up for daycare, the daycares require parents to provide their own diapers for their children,” McMullan said. “If they can't afford diapers, they can't take them to daycare, which means you have to find someone to watch your child.”

“But if you can't afford diapers, your ability to pay for a babysitter is probably also non-existent,” she said. “So, now you're taking time off of work and missing pay. And the cycle continues.” 

Every day McMullan is presented with challenges. She consistently applies concepts learned from her psychology classes at Georgia College & State University, like counseling theories, abnormal psychology and neuroscience. She especially applies the different types of counseling theories in her role at ALS, where she also functions as a social worker. 

McMullan credits Dr. Lee Gillis, chair, psychological science; Dr. J. Noland White, professor of psychology; and Dr. Diana Young, associate professor of psychology for providing her with this valuable knowledge. 

McMullan knows the importance of staying committed to a cause. 

“We get donations during the holiday season, because everyone's got that good feeling in their heart,” she said. “But that means in June, we’ll be in the same position—turning away diaper requests, because we don't have what we need.”

McMullan’s hope is for her to uplift others.

“If you're going to complain about something in your community,” McMullan said, “and you want to see change, then volunteer—be that change.”

Others inspire McMullan to be a better person every day.

“The joys of being so passionate about what you do is that it hits you like this,” she said while tearing up. “I just want what's best for people and seeing others work for those things is inspirational to me. It just gets me every time.”