Cori Smith turns personal hardship into diaper aid for Memphis families

Cori Smith, founder and executive director of Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry, has built a Memphis nonprofit that has distributed more than two million diapers and expanded into period supplies, infant formula and senior care items. The organization’s growth shows how grassroots aid can scale into a regional safety net for families facing diaper insecurity.

Why it matters: - Diaper insecurity can strain family budgets and affect the health and stability of parents, infants and older adults. - Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry now serves as a Mid-South resource for essential care items, giving supporters a direct way to meet immediate needs. - Cori Smith’s model shows how a volunteer-driven nonprofit can turn small donations into measurable household support.

What happened: - Cori Smith, M.A., is the founder and executive director of Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry in Memphis. - Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry started in 2014 as a small grassroots diaper drive. - The nonprofit has grown into a regional organization that has distributed more than two million diapers. - The organization also provides infant formula, feminine hygiene products, period supplies, adult incontinence products and senior care items. - Smith also serves as financial secretary for Shelby County Schools. - Smith holds a master’s degree in human resources management from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from the University of Memphis.

The details: - Smith was born in Chicago and raised in Memphis. - She said early experiences with poverty and limited resources shaped her commitment to underserved communities. - At age 12, Smith wrote to President Bill Clinton asking for more funding and support for homeless families in Memphis. - Smith says the idea for Sweet Cheeks came during her first experience as a new mother. - After losing her job due to illness and being placed on bed rest during pregnancy, Smith saw how expensive basic baby care could be. - She began collecting diapers in her garage and distributing them to mothers in need. - Community support helped the effort grow into larger facilities and partnerships, including with the National Diaper Bank Network. - Volunteers organize, sort and repackage donated supplies before they reach families. - Smith encourages community members to visit, volunteer and see the work firsthand.

Between the lines: - The nonprofit’s appeal is practical as much as emotional: donors can see diapers and other essentials move quickly from shelves to families. - Smith’s leadership blends nonprofit management, financial oversight and community advocacy, which helps the organization operate with structure as demand grows. - Her comments on nonprofit funding point to a wider challenge in the sector: even mission-driven organizations can struggle if fundraising and planning do not keep pace with expansion.

What's next: - Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry appears focused on maintaining and expanding its regional distribution network. - Smith continues to support diaper insecurity efforts nationally and remains active with Girl Scouts USA and the University of Phoenix alumni association. - Community participation, volunteerism and donor relationships are likely to remain central to the organization’s next phase of growth.

The bottom line: - Cori Smith turned a personal struggle into a lasting Memphis nonprofit that delivers basic necessities, dignity and relief to families across the Mid-South. - More information is available through Cori Smith’s Influential Women profile and Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry.