July 17, 2008

Christmas (or Hanukkah) in July and More …

A few weeks ago a friend came upon a fabulous collection of brand new kids’ toys…everything still boxed and sure to make a child happy. She called me asking if we knew of a good home for these special treats.

Of course, this was not a difficult task to complete. I sent an email to my friend Jeannie Jaybush at Baby Corner and she was more than happy to help find good homes for five cartons of stuffed animals, toys, dolls, puzzles and so much more. Baby Corner in Seattle serves as a resource for local social services who deal with families (with few economic resources) that have a new baby and cannot afford many of the items needed to help with caring for a new infant.

Today, Jeannie wrote to let us know that the boxes arrived and, as usual, they were a real hit!

Also, yesterday about Noon the boxes arrived! … One of the RN’s was here picking up something else & got that "oh goody" look in her eyes when I started to open them. She took 3 of the toys for the siblings of some of the babies that are with Mom in treatment. … She’s usually here 2-3 times each week for "stuff" for the babies, hopeful that there’s "stuff" for the older siblings, or something for Mom to try to get her in to treatment… It’s a real difficult caseload & the outcomes are often less than ideal. Lots of jail time, taking the baby away from Mom, mental health problems (she’s even had to talk women off the high bridges where they were going to jump to commit suicide), and of course, baby deaths. So, the toys are going out the door less than 10 minutes after delivery! The rest will follow shortly I’m sure

Thanks again for the toys. Nobody has had new toys since Christmas & the kids are thrilled with anything. The dollies will be especially loved. I’m off to count teddy bears etc!

One of the other ways we enjoy helping Jeannie and the new mothers is by providing them with nursing bras. Who would have thought? Jeannie tells us that a proper nursing bra is almost unheard of…the cost is prohibitive for poor women, but the difference they make is unbelievable on so many different levels. I asked Jeannie if she still had a supply and, as is usually the case, the answer was, "No!" They are a very popular item with the nurses Jeannie works with. It was time to send a new supply and when I told Jeannie I would get a new order out to her she responded as she always does, with great joy and appreciation:

You & the nursing bras are very popular & we’re still getting women crying over the new undies. The nurses keep telling me to remember to thank you for them whenever they come in to pick up….thank you, thank you, & thank you again!!!

Jeannie