September 4, 2025
Diapers Needs & Giving Back: Podcast Episode #306
Kristin Revere and Dr. Annie Biship discuss the importance of giving back and engaging with the community as a small business. They are partnering once again for the Gold Coast Doulas’ 10th Annual Diaper Drive.
Hello, hello! This is Kristin with Ask the Doulas, and I am so excited to chat with my dear friend, Dr. Annie Bishop, today. Annie is co-owner and co-founder of Rise Wellness Chiropractor.
Welcome, Annie!
Thanks for having me, I’m so pumped to be here! It’s been a long time!
It has! We have to have you back on to talk chiropractic, but today, we are talking about charitable giving and the importance of businesses doing more than making profit. And since Gold Coast is a certified B-Corp, we have really focused on not only giving our time but also our dollars to causes that matter to us, and you at Rise Wellness with Dr. Rachel, have always participated in multiple ways of charitable giving and involved your patients and the community. I feel like getting involved in our 10th Annual Diaper Drive with Nestlings was a perfect fit for you, but I would love to hear more about why you choose to give back to causes that are near and dear to your heart.
So this is year nine that we’ve partnered with you, which is awesome. That’s before Rise Wellness was even founded. I go way back with you! I mean, the diaper drive, I feel like, is one of those big ones that we’re always excited to do every year, but besides that, we do the back to school drive for local schools. A lot of the public schools in the area need a lot of resources, so we like to collect school supplies. We always do an angel tree giving thing around the holidays, and then we try to squeeze in one more earlier in the year, too, whether it’s a food drive or something like that. But really, I mean, Rachel and I – we’re both chiropractors. We care so much about our families that we see, the nervous system, all that stuff, but what that really feeds into is the health and strength of the community, too.
I mean, you know – you got me involved in other community organizations and stuff, too, when we were starting out as a business. That’s one of my values is just connecting the community, creating a strong foundation for community members. You know it takes a village to raise a family, and I feel like it takes a village to raise that community. The more that we give back and the more that we contribute to that bigger sense – it creates a community that thrives together and we all grow together that way.
Exactly. And it’s a way to collaborate with other businesses, to involve clients. They get excited. I know your patients certainly do. And you work with women in the childbearing phase, along with all families, but specializing in Webster certified chiropractic care and pediatric care. Your patients tend to have those extra diapers, or they received a box that they never used at a shower, or if they have cloth diapers – we can take cloth, too, and open bags and open boxes. In many years past, you have collected the most diapers because you engage your community.
Our secret is that we collect them year-round, too!
Yes! I’ll hold diapers as well. Clients give us diapers, and I’m like, okay, I’m going to save this for the drive.
Yeah, exactly. When kids are growing out of sizes, we have moms ask all the time, do you know what I can do? Do you have families that are using these open packs? Sometimes we can directly donate them to people who need them here, or we have a diaper changing station in our bathroom, but for the most part, when we have big quantities of diapers that are coming in, like unused boxes or open boxes, we’re like, shoot, we’ll save these for the drive, and it will give us a little step up right at the beginning.
Exactly, yes. And it makes all the difference. And you understand, working with the nervous system and with health, and being a pediatric chiropractor, if infants have wet diapers, they’re prone to crying. The increased crying can lead to perinatal mood disorders in families, and it just intensifies. And diapers are expensive. Formula is expensive. It’s one of the unmet needs that are not covered by government programs, so families, if they can’t afford diapers, they’ll keep their baby in a wet diaper, or their toddler. The biggest need in the diaper drive is actually those larger sizes, the toddlers, that aren’t fully potty-trained. We always say the size is 3 to 5. Of course, we take newborn and all sizes, but there is so much need, and I feel like there’s not enough awareness about how pressing this issue really is.
Yep, agreed.
And certainly with childcare – we’re still in a childcare crisis, and if you don’t have diapers to bring to daycare, then you can’t bring your child. So even if there is funding for daycare, there’s also that requirement to bring diapers.
Yeah, for sure. And think of the stress of all of that, of not being able to afford diapers. Even if your kid isn’t upset and crying about having a wet diaper, but just feeling that. As a mom, it’s got to be so hard to know, this is something that we’re struggling with, and who do I ask for help. I think that’s one of the major reasons that we want to create this resource for moms and help supply diaper banks.
Exactly. And one thing that was shocking to me: over the ten years we’ve done this drive, I used to always say, you know, when being interviewed in the media or talking about the drive, that it was 1 in 3 families who struggle with diaper need. And just last year or the last year and a half, it increase to 1 in 2 families.
That’s wild. And it’s never been something that’s been a part of funding or support for low income families or just families in general. It’s not part of WIC. It’s not part of any sort of social programming, which is just – it’s such an unmet need. It’s wild. That blows my mind.
Yeah, and then even with the sustainability of cloth diapers, that investment – unless you get hand-me-downs from a friend or are able to buy them used, that upfront cost is expensive. And then sometimes some daycare providers or even nannies aren’t comfortable or won’t work with cloth. Hard decisions need to be made. Do you put food on the table, do you pay your utilities, or do you buy diapers this week?
As far as the drive goes, in greater Grand Rapids, we serve Kent County, Ottawa, and Allegan with the partners that we work with, with Nestlings Diaper Bank, and also Great Start Parent Collaboration. And that need, again, is pressing. So we have partners like yourself in Ottawa and Allegan and Kent Counties that collect the entire month of September. You will have a box in your location, and anyone can come in – they don’t have to be a patient – and they can drop off boxes, bags, whether they’re brand new or opened or a handful of individual diapers, and certainly cloth diapers, cloth supplies – we also accept wipes, which are also expensive and needed. So from September 1st to October 1st, we will be collecting diapers, along with some other partners who have worked with us over the years. Mindful Counseling and Hopscotch, also near you location-wise. A lot of uptown area businesses; of course, the Gold Coast office, and Mindful Counseling has three locations. Advent Physical Therapy has multiple locations; I want to say nine participating this year, all over Kent County, and one in Zeeland. And Nestlings Diaper Bank has a variety of partners in Holland and Zeeland who collect diapers year round, including Brann’s Steakhouse, and they have so many amazing long-term partners in libraries. We’re excited to be able to have this big goal, which we’re just announcing here, of 20,000 diapers collected.
Yeah, let’s do it!
We have a month and many places. We will give a list of locations, addresses, websites so that you can take a look. But I’d also like to talk about the national movement, which just happens to fall around Gold Coast’s 10th anniversary, which is coming up. That’s why we always did the drive from September 1st to October 1st, to celebrate that anniversary, make a big give-back. And we plan to not only give financially this year to Nestlings as a business but also give the collected diapers with partners like yourself in early October. So let’s hope that we exceed the goal and can help more families in our area. But with the National Diaper Needs Awareness Week, it has moved up. It’s earlier than usual this year. It’s September 15th to September 21st. And this is a national initiative. If you don’t live in Michigan and you’re listening to this episode, you can go online and see about other diaper drives that are going on around the US, and you can also donate to the National Diaper Need Awareness Bank and be able to impact even more families. And you can donate to Nestlings Diaper Bank. They accept PayPal donations. They have an Amazon wish list. So if you want to give to a diaper bank that impacts families and you don’t live in this area, you’re able to directly give to them.
That’s awesome. That’s great. We did an Amazon wish list, too, this year for families who didn’t want to go out and buy stuff but just wanted to send us diapers. Like, yeah, this is a great idea. Just get them sent to the office, and we’ll add them to the pile!
Exactly! And sometimes with newborns, it’s hard to get out of the house. You haven’t gone through diapers yet. There are many diaper parties at baby showers, and sometimes you get too many of one size, or you registered for them. You can just register for diapers and have them sent to Nestlings or to your office as a registry item and a way to give back with your own baby shower. So what else are you doing, other than the continuous giveback and community engagement?
I think we’re just going to be pumping the diaper drive this month. And we always offer a discounted initial exam for people who donate, too. So it’s a nice time for people whose family members or friends are interested in coming in. We really put it out that way. Hey, if you donate diapers, then you get even more discounted on your exam and stuff. So that always helps get a lot of education around the diaper drive and also gives people a little incentive to donate, too. So that’s kind of what we’re up to in our office this month.
And you’ve had other partners that have been involved that share office space and have brought in diapers. And I know some other supporters like Fit4Mom will collect at classes and then bring the diapers to your location. You’ve been very generous about offering your space as a collection spot on the last day of the drive when we’re able to get everything counted. It’s so exciting to see the impact, and Great Start is certainly appreciative, as well as Nestlings. And the great thing about partnering with them is they understand all of the area partner agencies that give to families in need. There’s no way that I could identify the families that need diapers. They work with 31 partner agencies and distribute them in Kent, Ottawa, and Allegan Counties. So again, if you’re listening elsewhere, there are other diaper banks or organizations such as Great Start that are holding drives during this month and also throughout the year. Drives can happen at any time. It just happens that ours is around a big holiday. The stats that Nestlings has released – they’ve distributed over three million diapers and helped over 50,000 families since they launched in 2011. Last year alone, with our help from our drive, they distributed nearly 400,000 diapers.
Wow! That’s so great!
Yeah. I’m so thankful, and I feel like with federal funding and the cuts with grants, it’s more important that we give to organizations like Nestlings, like Great Start, to be able to impact our communities and families’ lives.
For sure. That community support is a lot more grassroots these days.
Other than that, helping families, any impactful stories? I always love hearing about the success that you’ve had with clients. I know that we send a lot of our Gold Coast clients to you, and it’s so fun to have the longstanding relationships. As a doula, I have clients that I walk through three or pregnancies and births with, and you have worked with patients over time and have become like family to them. I’d love to hear a story!
Yes, so many stories! I feel like we’re in a phase of home visits right now, too. We always offer home visits for moms who’ve been with us or pregnant women who have been with us through care. Then when they give birth, it’s hard to leave the house, so we always offer a home visit. It’s a highlight for Rachel and I to be able to be one of the first people to meet the baby and adjust baby and mom at home. It really feels like it’s family oriented. We’re a part of the process, and that’s always such a great thing. So we’ve been busy with a bunch of home visits recently. I have a little guy that I see that had a little accident last week and broke his leg. So I did a home visit for him yesterday, too. He hadn’t pooped since the fall happened, and mom was really concerned. He can’t leave the house because he’s in a full leg brace. So she was texting me, is there any way you can come over? I was like, yeah, absolutely. So I drove up to Rockford yesterday and adjusted him on the couch, just wrapped in a pillow, basically, and then left. And later that day she texted me and was like, he’s the most relaxed he’s ever been. He has pooped twice since your adjustment. Thank you so much, he’s so much more comfortable! That was yesterday. These are stories that we hear all the time!
That’s what keeps you going is knowing the impact! And the fact that you do home visits is so rare, and I love popping into your office and seeing you with your table because I know that someone just had a baby.
Yes! Yep. Got to take off for another one. We have our go-bag and our fold-up table and everything ready to go always.
The work is so important. As you said, it’s all about establishing community. And that village, whether it’s our other diaper drive partner, Mind Body Baby, who has a community with classes, and your community that you’ve created, and you do a lot of events for moms. We even held a book launch party at your space and have collaborated on a variety of events. You do so much to create community, and we try to be the same light in the world. We’re excited to have our 10th anniversary party – so you’ll be getting an invite soon!
Congratulations! That’s a huge accomplishment!
Thanks! Time sure flies when you love what you do! Well, thanks, Dr. Annie! Any final words for our listeners?
Get those diapers in! Go out and do good in the world. Support families. Support moms. Support people who need help because there’s a lot of people who need help right now, and the more that we give, even just in small ways, it really makes a huge impact when we all do something together.
Absolutely. And how can our listeners connect with you? You’ve got a website. You’re all over social media. You have amazing interviews and videos.
We’re Rise Wellness Chiropractic. That’s just shortened to Rise Wellness Chiro on all of our social media. We try to do a lot of educational videos and posts about the nervous system, about how to help kids, how to help moms. And then we have some fun ones, too. I just did a Nicki Minaj post, so you will see that on our social media later! I don’t recommend that to anyone.
I love it! Well, thank you so much for partnering with us once again, Dr. Annie, and we’ll have to have you back on to talk about the latest trends and findings in chiropractic care. But our listeners can connect with you on socials, your website. They can find your hours to drop off diapers. And as you mentioned, you do have a discount for new patients with bringing in diapers?
We do, yeah.
Thank you! Take good care!
IMPORTANT LINKS
Birth and postpartum support from Gold Coast Doulas