A fundraising luncheon at a private club in Bethesda is expected to draw about 150 supporters of The Napkin Network, a grassroots diaper and hygiene nonprofit that has collected nearly 500,000 diapers over five years.

The fourth annual "Moms on a Mission" event has grown fast. When founder Lindsay Gill held the inaugural luncheon in 2023, 24 guests showed up. About 100 attended in 2025. Gill, a mother of three who started the organization after seeing Washington-area parents struggle to afford diapers, wipes and formula, expects the 2026 crowd to nearly double last year's turnout, DC News Now reported.

Gill ran The Napkin Network out of her home for five and a half years before securing space for a new physical pantry in Rockville. That location is set to open in October 2026, offering free infant items, feminine hygiene products and self-care supplies for mothers two to three days a week.

Nationally, about 40 percent of households with children under age 4 struggle to afford diapers, according to the National Diaper Bank Network's 2026 Diaper Check.

How Bethesda residents can help

Neighbors who want to pitch in have several options:

• Donate supplies at regional collection boxes (a small pack of diapers runs about $25)
• Send money via Venmo to The Napkin Network
• Volunteer directly with the organization

Details are available at thenapkinnetwork.com.

The Rockville pantry opens in October. The "Moms on a Mission" luncheon date has not been announced publicly; residents can check thenapkinnetwork.com for updates.