(heavily sighs) No leaky problems.

Diapers means no leaky problems.

People are choosing between rent, food, diapers, families actually run out of diapers.

Being able to provide for your child.

There's food, shelter, diaper.

I think it's that simple, basic necessity.

On a scale of one to 10, it's a hundred.

(chuckles) [Narrator] Funding for this program comes from the Mike and Gillian Goodrich Foundation, with additional support from the American Advertising Federation of Roanoke.

[Michael] They're not the rich and famous.

Their profit comes not from the thing they sell, but the good they do.

Our nation has more than 1.5 million nonprofits that employ one out of 10 Americans, providing services that otherwise go unfulfilled, keeping our community connected when all else fails.

But nonprofits often lack the tools to properly promote themselves, to inspire more donors and volunteers and clients to their cause.

That's where I come in.

I've been at the nonprofit world for nearly 20 years.

I connect nonprofits with marketing professionals who donate their time and expertise so that at the end of the day, these life-giving organizations can do more, do better by creating more, that's right, buzz.

(pensive music) They cost about a quarter a piece, a combination of plastics, absorbent polymer, tape.

Their purpose is as elemental as it gets, a depository for a child's waste.

There's nothing inspirational about a diaper, right?

Nothing that would make you think of anything lofty like, well, hope?

(gentle music) So, hi, I'm Theresa Jones.

I'm a board member at Bundles of Hope.

My name is Lindsay Gray and I am the Executive Director of Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank.

[Theresa] It is more than just diapers.

Bundles of Hope really gives families the basic needs just for everyday life, things that we're concerned about with our children, concerns that are often overlooked.

So I really feel like Bundles of Hope provides hope for those families just to meet the basic needs.

My background is, I was a labor and delivery nurse, worked at a hospital here for 10 years doing labor and delivery.

So just cheering women on, encouraging them as they transform from women to mothers.

It was amazing watching the miracle of birth, you know, every time you go into work, but quickly realized that you know, it's not a happy story for everybody.

Some families don't have support.

67% of moms here in Birmingham are single mothers.

They're terrified, typically, when they're having their babies, They have no idea how they're gonna pay for food or diapers or gas or any of that.

What about childcare?

All of the things that they have to coordinate and manage, they need a community to rally around them and support them.

They have little to no support network.

If those are the things that we're saying we believe in, we should be showing up with money.

Money.

As a daughter of a single mother, the support that my mother received from organizations like Bundles really propelled me to go beyond what my mother accomplished, and that was what my mother wanted from me.

So the organizations that provided my mom the basic things to help me go to school, to help me focus on learning versus focusing on lack, really allowed me to be successful.

So that's what I wanna give back, and that's what Bundles is for this community.

How lots of things start, women sitting around talking, just about what do other women need when they're having babies?

They were hosting a baby shower.

So it's a group at our church and a diaper bank was mentioned.

You know, diapers are really expensive, they're a basic essential, and they're often overlooked.

So they did some research and in 2015, we hosted our first diaper drive at our church.

I mean, so in 2015, you know, we had one distribution partner, it was a church food pantry.

We served, you know, hosted a diaper drive, served about 30 families.

Fast forward to 2023, we have about 70 community partners.

We're doing direct service here at our facility, serving 3,300 families.

167,000 diapers in one month.

As a nonprofit, it's really hard to juggle all of the different needs of the nonprofit.

So marketing is one of the things that sometimes falls by the wayside.

So we're so excited to partner with Buzz for Good and get the word out about how people can volunteer, how they can donate, how they can support families here in Alabama, and really a digital marketing plan, an updated website.

Those are really, really useful tools that will help us accomplish that.

[Michael] While I started thinking about some marketing hope for Lindsay and her team, I also visited some of the people the nonprofit serves, like Quintisha Tubbs, a mom of seven children, and a small home in Terrance City, who found a lot more than just diapers at Bundles of Hope.

I came from kind of a, it was a simple background but... Not too great, as you would say.

I was kinda abandoned by my mom when I was seven-years-old.

She was kind of on drugs and stuff a little bit and wasn't able to be there to take care of us and be a good role model for us.

Well, I came across the Bundles of Hope in 2020, so we was kind of struggling with food, clothing and stuff like that.

So it was kind of hard, you know, especially then having to add on diapers, even for a 48-pack would be like $25, especially when you have to try to split that amongst four kids.

So I was calling agency, even going to local churches, you know, trying to find help with diapers.

So I ran across the Bundles of Hope and they've been a blessing.

Clothing, they give out clothing, toys too, books, fundamental things for kids.

Like they've put cheer in my heart as well as my kids, happiness and everything.

You know, the people there are so great.

They are willing to be there to, you know, help you.

They're not pressuring you.

They're just so easy going and they understand everything that you have going on with yourself.

You know, they don't judge.

They just there just with open arms and welcome.

You know, they just love.

I've been more, let's say, on an expense level with the diapers, I've had a lot of help I can be able to put back to give them the food, milk that they need, clothing.

I can do a lot now, you know?

And I'm very excited that they have been a part of my life, you know, to be that joy and you know, take that stagnant away.

It really has and I'm sorry for the tearing that I'm bringing on right now because this is a awesome moment for, you know, my kids and everything to really pull that faith outta me that I never thought I could have, you know?

And I used to be the one that didn't go to people often, you know, didn't ask for help or anything.

But I kind of sucked my pride up and really gave me that to let go that pride and let my guard down.

It really helped me.

They really helped me understand that no matter if you're here on your own, you're not.

You still have somebody.

And yes, made me become a better person.

-Whew.

Sorry.

-(gentle music) So, I'm Alexis Laster.

I am a social worker at UAB Pediatric Primary Care Clinic.

My name is Jamiria Davis and I am the administrator for Royal Divinity Ministries, Inc. We're a nonprofit located in the western part of Birmingham, and we provide food assistance, case management, and other programs to help families that need help.

So we became a partner with Bundles of Hope back in December of 2022.

As of this month, we are now period partners so we're also able to provide pads or other menstrual needs for families.

So that could be for a patient or for a mom who's having postpartum experiences.

We're able to provide those for them as well.

Well, right in the midst of the pandemic, actually the CEO, Lindsay came out to see if Bundles would be a great partnership with us and if they could come alongside us and help our family.

So I didn't know that Bundles even existed, but that was an answer to prayer.

There was so much excitement.

They were thrilled to know that that was a product that we can offer through our partnership with Bundles of Hope.

And the excitement is still there.

Parents look forward to it.

We do it once a month and it just meets a need.

And people are still excited about it.

Oh, they're glowing, they're excited.

I think some of them at first are kind of like apprehensive.

They won't necessarily ask for it, but if you say you have it and they're like, "You have diapers?"

I'm like, "Yes."

And they're like just a glow.

Like, "Oh, that's something I don't have to worry about this week or this month.

[Jamiria] There's a big exhale.

There's a big exhale when people realize that they can get diapers through Bundles of Hope at our site, because the struggle is real and people need so much.

But when they know there's a place I can come, I can get period products, I can get diapers from my baby, what we see is an exhale and a smile.

People are thankful.

We're thankful to Bundles of Hope because without them, we wouldn't be able to provide that to our families.

And it's great.

Like, I don't have an answer to a lot of things, a lot of questions, I'm like, I don't really have an answer to.

I can give you this list, but one thing for sure, I can hand you some diapers.

That's something I can do.

I can really do that for you.

What I want people to know is that Bundles of Hope provides a very necessary product, more than one product actually, for families in need.

People are still recovering financially from the pandemic and otherwise.

And to have that, to have Bundles there to meet the need for diapers, wipes, period products, it's invaluable.

I can't imagine not even having it now for our families.

Okay, my name is Cynthia Tucker and this is my grandson, DeAngelo.

And this is my sister-in-law.

My name is Judith Jones and this is my granddaughter, Amari Milligan.

My name is Keshawndra Fitzgerald.

I am from Tallahassee, Florida.

I have two kids, ages seven and one, a boy and girl.

My name is Tenira Garner.

And I'm Willistein DeShields Williams.

[Both] And we're sisters.

I was born and raised here in Birmingham, Alabama.

I have four kids and I'm a working mom.

I was born in California.

I migrated here a long time ago.

And now I have four kids.

We have had a struggle with my baby because she was an addict baby.

And so we have, me and my sister-in-law, we the custody of her and we have been taking care of her ever since she been born.

We had her two days after she was born.

And so it is been a struggle, but it's much better now.

Much better.

And she has lots of love.

It keeps me going in a way, yeah.

It keeps me going.

And I enjoy it, yeah, because I love my grandchildren.

I wouldn't trade 'em for nothing.

Okay?

I have five siblings from my mom.

I'm the oldest of all.

My dad has 24 in all.

And I'm the oldest of every last one of us.

And I always been a family provider.

I helped every last one of us and whatever that was needed, I always been there to help my brothers and sisters no matter what.

And now I feel like it's my turn 'cause I had never struggled until now.

And I'm just trying my best to make it.

(chuckles) Well the truth is, we're not like blood sisters.

-We're God sisters.

-Yeah.

-So we've been this- -Together 20 years.

Yes.

We are related just not by blood.

-Yes.

-(gentle music) [Willistein] And all we have is each other.

We don't have any like other like family per se.

[Tenira] Yes.

[Willistein] So we have formed our own family.

We're very dependent on each other.

With my baby, my baby girl, she's 37-years-old and imagine me, 59, getting a newborn, starting all over again.

But I felt like she saved my life because at that point in time, my husband had passed and I saw myself going down this road.

Ooh, 'cause I didn't come out my room for a whole month.

-Yeah.

-It was really hard.

And me and her had left the doctor coming down the road.

And that's when the lady called and asked would we get her.

She looked at me, she was like, "Gone and get her, sister.

We'll take care of her."

Yeah, we'll take care of her.

And that's what we been doing.

-Hmm hmm.

-Taking care of her.

And that's when I said, she's a blessing to me because I saw myself with no return.

And that's when I said, the Lord sent this blessing to me.

So she has been a big rock for me.

And she made my life much better.

What I was missing, God replaced it with someone else for me to love and take care of.

And I wouldn't give her up for the world.

This our babies here.

And do they keep us running?

-Oh yes, Lord.

Oh.

Mercy.

-Hmm hmm.

They do.

(laughing) -But I love it.

-Yeah.

Hmm hmm.

[Willistein] So diapers are very expensive.

And then also you don't want to get some that are not, you know, that costs too low because then you don't have to worry about, you know, diaper rashes and stuff like that.

And I can say coming to Bundles of Hopes, they always have quality diapers.

It means that it helps the tush of a baby.

It looks so pretty.

(laughing) I love keeping 'em clean.

I love the smell (chuckles) of a clean baby 'cause I have people that watch, like when I take my child around other people, they admire the smell.

And some people have, like, I work with older people and they say that they haven't smelled a baby in such a long time.

So with the smell of a clean diaper, clean products with Johnson & Johnson, I rub my baby down with that.

And I have to, I just love keeping 'em clean.

That's why I thank God for Bundles of Hope.

-Woo, what you say?

-And Ms. Linds.

-Hmm hmm.

-Hmm hmm.

And Jessica, when we first came, it was like they been knowed us 'cause they welcome us in.

"Come on in here," like they been knowed us -and that was our first time.

-Yeah.

[Judith] Coming here.

And it's been like that ever since.

-Real friendly.

-Hmm hmm.

We come through the door, they know us.

'Cause we always like this.

We never change.

And I thank them so much.

Hmm hmm, I do too.

Because with them, we don't know what we do.

'Cause we used to have to put our pennies together.

Yes, before Bundles of Hope, 'cause like some medicine, me and her take a like, and if she didn't have enough to last her to her time, 'cause we had to buy milk or diapers for them, that's what we would do.

And sometimes we would break 'em in half to last us because we couldn't afford to buy the Pampers.

And that's why it's such a blessing that we don't have to put off our medicine now or put off something we need for the house because the blessing that we get here.

Yes.

Yes, it definitely gives me a personal sense of fulfillment knowing that I'm able to keep my child dry and happy and healthy.

You know, it's just something that's just needed.

And with Bundles of Hope, they just pour so much love into the packages that they give you.

They even put a little card in there with positive notes on it.

And I look forward to reading that card every time.

It just brightens my day.

I love Bundles of Hope, even though I just started coming here, I have never walked into a place and experienced the positive energy.

There's a lot of positive energy in here.

They all welcome you.

So I love it.

Even sitting down talking to you, 'cause sometime we come up in here, have a lot on our mind and it just, the hug and the smile.

-Big hug.

-Yes.

And it just lifts its weights off you.

-Yeah.

-And I love that.

I love it.

And I've been with this program for eight months and I try to spread it as far as I can and let people know if I start to hear like a mom is struggling and I just let 'em know, "Hey, this is simple process.

No, you don't have to worry about anybody judging you.

It's quick.

It doesn't take up all of your time.

And you will be treated with respect."

I appreciate all the love that we receive and I just don't know what I would do without this program.

Yes.

[Michael] It turns out, I didn't have to look far to provide the marketing resources that Bundles needs.

In fact, all I had to do was go back to Bundles beginnings, as I discovered in my conversation with Lindsay Vansant of Martin Advertising, I was in the middle of having small children of my own and a full-time job.

So I couldn't join them in the same way that they endeavored in this.

But we had this space here that had previously been leased by another tenant and they had moved out and so this space was empty.

And so for about a year, -we kept the diapers here.

-Okay.

We bundled them and we made it like the main distribution point.

Well, we took them from here out to other places.

Right.

But they outgrew it quickly because the need was great in Birmingham.

-Yep.

-And the partners, the community partners they made were amazing -and it grew really fast.

-Hmm hmm.

And so they were only here for about a year, but that's how our relationship started.

And from there we helped 'em make a logo and kind of get started with letterhead and business cards and the things that you need when you're trying to make those connections.

-Yep.

-In the community, and get a business off the ground or a nonprofit off the ground.

But we've had a wonderful time with 'em.

They are great people.

We've been honored to be able to do this.

It's been special for us and we've loved seeing the way that they've grown and served the community throughout the years.

You've provided them with hope along the way.

I hope so.

I hope so.

Lindsay, thank you for coming in today.

It's been such a pleasure to work on Bundles of Hope brand and I wanted to kind of bring all of the different people who have touched the brand work and all the different pieces, bring all these folks together to spend time with you to review everything that we've created and crafted for you.

All right, here we have the redone logo and showcasing the Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank.

We've got your three baby heads that are part of that logo now.

-Did you darken the diaper?

-I did.

We added a little bit of a stitch to it and we darkened it down so it's gonna show up on top of a white or black background.

-That's been an issue.

-Or whatever background.

-That's been an issue.

-So.

This leads you right here to the website that we have re-skinned for you.

That's got you there.

We started off showcasing the infants and the baby's side here with a little bit of information, just stating eight to 10 diapers a day, which can cost more than a hundred dollars.

-I did not know that.

-Yeah.

So it's been, I've learned a tremendous amount working with you on this.

Yeah, and that donate now button right at the top so donors don't, there's no confusion on where to support just right there.

We've never had that before, so that's great.

You've always had to scroll to donate and, you know, participate, so that's great.

Scrolling down just a little bit, we get into some other percentages that we have here and your mission.

0% of diapers are covered by food stamps and assisted programs.

Over 40% of female-led homes in the Birmingham area live in poverty.

-I did not know that.

-Yeah.

And that's a hard number.

We're trying to bring it to where these are people, these are faces, these are names, -they're not just numbers.

-Right.

So we wanted to make that connectivity to the site and to you guys, as organic and as as wonderful as we possibly could.

Scrolling down, we have Bundles of... And then all the different products that you offer.

And, 'cause like I said, you know, -you guys aren't just diapers.

-Hmm hmm.

[Brannon] There's a lot of other things that you guys offer.

We've been told numerous times, "Oh, I didn't know you guys did that.

I didn't know you guys did that."

So to segment out the programming is on our own books.

Hmm hmm.

Now anybody who's interested in early childhood education, there's a spot for them.

"Oh, this is diapers and books."

You know, so I think that that is great.

That's great.

Right through here, we have a handful of dropdowns that you can access as far as if someone's to staying up-to-date on the information, if there's any kind of- And that plays directly into the content calendar that we're in the process of creating and where you will have topics you can write about and when to post, where to post.

People can also sign up on the website and stay up-to-date in that space too, or connect to the socials, whatever those are.

I love getting everything in one place.

That's so exciting.

It's like, it's here, it's here.

You go here to find it.

So that's incredible for it to all be in one spot.

I think a website is so important.

I mean, we are living in a digital world.

I don't have to tell the advertising company that we live in a digital world, but people go to a website to essentially assess the legitimacy or the validity of your work.

And so it's really telling of who you are.

Not to be like super dramatic, but it can build trust, I think, with people who wanna give you their hard-earned money to support families.

So it's gonna be really impactful for us besides just being visually just gorgeous.

-Great.

-Yeah.

-To translate into that.

-Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Well, so we toured the warehouse because we wanted to make sure that we were connecting, you know, all the stuff that we're doing directly to y'all at the warehouse.

We talked to some amazing volunteers that you had out there.

We did notice that there were one or two things in and around the warehouse that could use a little bit of touch up.

You guys have been scheming?

(men laughing) -You've been scheming?

-Maybe.

Okay, something up your sleeve?

-Maybe.

-Okay.

When do we get to see that?

Well, we could head there right now, if you want.

-Okay, let's do that.

-Y'all ready?

-Let's go, let's go.

-Let's go.

(pensive music) Okay, so you know the "It's nice to have you in Birmingham" slogan?

It's been around since the fifties, to promote Birmingham.

[Lindsay] Yeah.

Murals in and around Birmingham city of that.

So we thought that maybe we would bring that a little bit into Bundles of Hope and into the area that you guys call Changing Station.

-All right, let's go.

-(pensive music) It looks so good!

[Brannon] Awesome.

And it is beautiful.

And so recognizable.

It looks amazing.

I mean, what a difference one wall is white, just white and blah.

It's so warm and welcoming.

It's nice to have you in the Changing Station.

It's nice to have you in the Changing Station.

We thought that while you have your volunteers in here and once they're done with everything, you guys could get up underneath the changing station mural and taking from photo, hashtag diapers.

Put it on social media.

You guys can keep record of the wonderful people who come in here and help you guys out.

It's just a, it's a win-win all around.

It is a win-win.

You have no idea how much I hated that white wall.

(men laughing) And always avoided the white wall.

"Everybody get away from the white wall!"

Now you have a picture point.

Now we'll have, we'll say, "Everybody come get close to the wall."

It's gorgeous.

The design, execution.

Nailed it.

Nailed it.

-Thank you so much.

-Awesome.

-Thank you, sir.

-(hands clapping) Martin Advertising is a family-owned and operated business and they are committed to serving and supporting families here in Birmingham.

They have poured into it and spent a tremendous amount of time and thought and creativity brainstorming on, this wasn't a, oh, we're just gonna do this on the side.

They really dug in and gave it their all.

All of these things are going to be impactful for years and years to come for Bundles.

(pensive music) (pensive music continues) (pensive music continues)