History of Helping Mamas

Helping Mamas began with one social worker’s unwavering commitment to meet the unmet needs of mothers and children. Jamie Lackey, a mother and social worker, witnessed firsthand the heartbreaking realities faced by families struggling to provide basic necessities. She saw parents forced to use plastic grocery bags as diapers, wash out and reuse disposable diapers, and teenagers missing school due to a lack of period products. With no public assistance programs covering diapers or menstrual supplies, the need was urgent and immediate.

Driven by her passion for motherhood and social work, Jamie founded Helping Mamas out of her garage. She rallied friends and family to collect essential baby items and began distributing them through social workers to women and children in crisis.

What started as a grassroots effort grew rapidly. By 2018, Helping Mamas moved into a 9,000-square-foot facility in Norcross, Georgia, becoming a centralized hub for collecting and distributing essential baby and period products. That same year, we expanded our impact by opening an office in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 2024, we extended our reach even further with the opening of our Albany, Georgia office, ensuring families in Southwest Georgia have access to essential supplies.

Why Helping Mamas?

Every child deserves a healthy, happy start, but for many families, access to basic needs like diapers and period products is a daily struggle. Helping Mamas is Georgia and Tennessee’s leading baby supply bank, dedicated to bridging the gap between the community and families living in poverty. We provide essential baby and period products, ensuring dignity, health, and opportunity for those who need it most.

The Crisis We Address

Diaper Need

Without enough diapers, children cannot attend daycare, and parents may lose critical work hours. The inability to work leads to deeper financial hardship, making it harder to afford basic essentials. Public assistance programs rarely cover diaper costs, leaving a significant gap for struggling families.

Period Poverty

Nearly 1 in 4 women face difficulty affording menstrual products, forcing them to miss work or school and compromising their health and dignity. Public programs do not cover these essentials, and the stigma surrounding menstruation compounds the problem.

How We Work

We Collect and Purchase Essentials

• We gather new and gently used baby items for children from birth to age 12, including diapers, wipes, car seats, cribs, and more.
• We also collect and distribute period products to ensure dignity for individuals experiencing period poverty.
• Through partnerships, like the National Diaper Network, we purchase essential products in bulk—stretching every dollar to maximize impact.

We Distribute Through Trusted Partnerships

• Helping Mamas collaborates with over 150 nonprofits, hospitals, government agencies, and community organizations across Georgia and Tennessee.
• Partners either place bulk orders or “shop” for the exact supplies needed for the families they serve. Our partners support those facing homelessness, domestic violence, foster care, food insecurity, addiction recovery, refugee resettlement, and more.

We Bring Resources Directly to Communities

• Our Mobile Distribution Program delivers essential items into underserved communities—meeting families where they are.
• We host distributions at schools, libraries, and churches, focusing on areas lacking transportation or resources.