Adult diapers are expensive, not covered by SNAP or most insurance programs, and one of the most chronically undersupplied items in social services. If you have unopened packages — a wrong size, a supply after a family member has passed, or excess from a medical supply order — here are five places that will put them to immediate use.
Long-term care facilities have a consistent need for incontinence supplies, and many are glad to receive unopened, in-date donations directly. Call the administrator or director of nursing at a local facility and ask about their donation policy. Some facilities can accept donations as in-kind gifts; others, particularly those with strict supply chain protocols, may only be able to accept donations through specific channels. Smaller private facilities are more likely to accept direct donations than large chains.
Homeless shelters serve elderly and disabled individuals who often have incontinence needs. Organizations like the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and local homeless shelters regularly need adult incontinence supplies and have no reliable way to obtain them. Call your local shelter and ask. This is frequently the fastest path to getting supplies to people who genuinely cannot afford them.
Many food banks and human services organizations distribute non-food items including hygiene products and incontinence supplies. Adult diapers are among the most commonly requested hygiene items that food banks report as undersupplied. Call your local Feeding America member food bank and ask if they accept hygiene supply donations, or check for dedicated hygiene banks in your area.
Area Agencies on Aging coordinate services for older adults and often have connections to homebound seniors who need incontinence supplies but can't afford or access them. Your local Area Agency on Aging (find them at eldercare.acl.gov) may be able to accept donations directly or point you to a local organization that can.
Home health agencies and programs serving people with disabilities on Medicaid waivers often know of clients who are running short on supplies due to coverage gaps or delays. Contact a local home health agency and ask whether they coordinate in-kind supply donations for clients who need them.
Last updated May 2026. Eldercare locator at eldercare.acl.gov. Errors: [email protected]
The easiest starting point is calling 211 — the United Way's social services hotline, available in most US counties. Ask specifically about incontinence supply assistance programs in your area. The 211 database tracks local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and government programs that distribute health and hygiene products. Many programs are small and not easily searchable online but are well-known to 211 operators.
A second approach is contacting your county's Department of Social Services or Department of Aging directly. County governments often know which local nonprofits receive referrals for clients who need hygiene supplies. They can point you to the right organizations even if those organizations don't have a prominent web presence.
Adult diapers and pull-up incontinence underwear are not interchangeable — they serve different mobility levels. Tab-style diapers (with adhesive tabs) are for people who are bed-bound or have limited mobility. Pull-up style underwear works for people who can stand and dress themselves. Most organizations need both, but ask which is in shorter supply before buying specifically to donate.
Sizing matters enormously. Incontinence products that don't fit well either leak or cause discomfort. Medium and large are typically the highest-demand adult sizes. Extra-large is sometimes scarce because manufacturers produce fewer and organizations stock less. Call ahead to ask what size gap currently exists rather than assuming.
Products from any brand are generally acceptable — there's no reason to buy Depends when the store brand works the same way. Buying in bulk at Costco, Sam's Club, or through Amazon Subscribe & Save can stretch your donation budget significantly. A case of 60–80 medium pull-ups from Costco's Kirkland brand costs about the same as two small retail packs of a name brand.
If you want to make a sustained difference, consider setting up a recurring Amazon donation through Smile.amazon.com (now integrated into Amazon directly) to a local organization on their wishlist, or contacting a nursing home or hospice directly to become a regular supplier. Organizations that can count on a predictable monthly supply can serve clients more reliably than those who depend on sporadic drives.
Some faith communities run ongoing hygiene product collections as part of their outreach ministry. If you're connected to a congregation, proposing an adult hygiene collection alongside the more common infant diaper drives can fill a gap that most organizations overlook.