For Anna Calix, community service and family advocacy are shaped by personal experience and professional training.
Calix is the founder and executive director of Gifts from Liam, a nonprofit that distributes diapers and baby supplies to families across Chicago’s South Side, West Side, and the south suburbs. Established in 2017, the organization honors her son, Liam Angel.
Diaper insecurity remains a challenge for many families trying to afford basic supplies for infants and toddlers, and the organization’s work focuses on helping address that need.
“Families shouldn’t have to choose between diapers and food,” Calix said. “But rising costs and limited income are forcing too many parents into that position.”
After organizing a diaper drive to commemorate what would have been Liam’s first birthday, Calix launched Gifts from Liam. The event collected about 20,000 diapers and baby supplies, revealing a broader community need.
Through diaper drives and partner distribution sites, the organization has since collected and distributed more than 200,000 diapers, wipes, and other essential items.
Calix holds a master’s degree in public health and a Public Health Management Certificate from the University of Illinois Chicago. Her professional background includes work in perinatal care, supporting families during pregnancy, childbirth, and infant loss.
That experience has influenced the organization’s approach. Gifts from Liam include diapers and educational materials on safe pregnancy and infant care in supply packages.
Recent data collected by the organization show growing demand for assistance. Between June and September 2025, the Park Forest distribution site served 91 children and recorded 37 diaper pickups. Requests came from 54 ZIP codes, most within the 604 region, including Park Forest and nearby communities.
Among families receiving assistance locally, 76% reported having two or more children in diapers, while nearly 79% reported household incomes below $35,000 per year.
Calix said economic pressures, including inflation and interruptions in public benefits, have contributed to increased need in recent years.
Nationally, one in two families reports struggling to afford enough diapers for their children, compared with one in three when the organization began in 2017.
Calix said requests increased when food assistance was paused as families were forced to prioritize other necessities.
Despite growing demand, donation levels have not always kept pace. During a recent diaper drive for Diaper Need Awareness Week, the organization collected about 10,000 diapers, about half the number collected during its first drive.
Community volunteers continue to play a major role in supporting the effort. During the most recent Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in Richton Park, more than 125 volunteers helped package more than 25,000 diapers and pull-ups for distribution.
The nonprofit has also supported families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. Gifts from Liam donated a Cuddle Cot to Rush University Medical Center, allowing families additional time with stillborn infants.
Calix said the organization aims to ensure families receive assistance in a respectful and supportive manner.
Residents and businesses interested in supporting the organization can donate diapers or pull-ups, make a financial contribution, host a diaper drive, or volunteer their time.
Calix said the organization’s mission remains focused on supporting families and strengthening the community.
“This is about dignity for families and giving parents the space to focus on what matters most — their children’s health and well-being,” she said.