About DENA

Like most great ideas, DENA began …… during a lunch-time debate over cold cuts and lemonade in the Summer of 2020. At the time, Ariel, DENA’s founder, was an intern for IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services). As a volunteer in the Family Literacy program, she was tasked with creating a slideshow to educate immigrants and refugees, who are clients of IRIS, on some aspect of American life. Thus arose a fierce debate surrounding the topic of the presentation: Ariel was convinced that she should present on diaper bags, but her dad was advocating for a presentation on the dangers of cyberbullying. His main argument? Many immigrants cannot afford diaper bags. Ariel did her presentation on diaper bags (sorry, dad), but her dad’s point stuck.

Ariel, who was already deeply involved in immigration-related services, decided to check her suspicion. While many charitable groups offered to provide diapers to low income new mothers, there was a gap when it came to other essential diaper supplies - diaper bags, baby wipes, changing pads, and more. She spoke with her boss at IRIS and others and concluded that many immigrant and refugee mothers were simply skipping many of these supplies, viewing them as “luxuries” that they could not afford.

Ariel formed DENA to fill this gap for new Americans (immigrants and refugees), who often lack not only the means to buy these supplies, but often also the knowledge to seek them out. Our mission is to fill this critical need by working with partner organizations to spread the use of these essential baby supplies in immigrant and refugee communities. We want our newest Americans to also be healthy Americans!