‘Baby Bundles’ Event a Success for United Way of Greater New Bedford

Having a baby can be an overwhelming experience for any new mom and their families. There are so many questions like:

• What are the necessities my baby needs?
• What is the best way for my baby to sleep?
• Am I feeding my baby enough?
• In what ways can I start teaching my baby?
• Are there any programs or support groups that can answer my questions?

According to a recent press release, United Way of Greater New Bedford’s Women United is working to ease the minds of new moms by packaging Baby Bundles to welcome these new little ones into our community. This past week, Women United members volunteered to package 100 Baby Bundles filled with items like diapers, wipes, bottles, books, and most importantly, information on early development, local programs such as the Family Resource and Development Center and WIC, and tips to promote literacy with your newborn. Newborns are also welcomed with their first (hopefully of many) LIVE UNITED shirt.

“Last year, when we hosted Baby Bundles for the first time, we had no idea how well it would be received by the moms receiving the bundles,” said Michelle N. Hantman, President & CEO at United Way. “The feedback we got from the partners handing out the bundles and from the moms who received them, was more than we could have ever imagined. These packages provided moms with a few necessities for their baby and a reminder of the amazing community they are a part of.”

Baby Bundles will be distributed through programs at Southcoast Health and the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center. A virtual community baby shower and a number of drives were held earlier in the year to collect the items included in each bundle.

Stephanie Pickup is a passionate volunteer for this initiative. "Baby Bundles is my favorite Women United project. It’s a wonderful way to welcome our newest members of the community and support the families who raise them. We love to package adorable baby essentials but more importantly, we’re helping lay a healthy foundation for these children to grow into happy and successful adults. I am excited to see United Way of Greater New Bedford really working to mobilize a diverse and talented group of women who understand the power of early childhood development and literacy."

This is only one of Women United’s initiatives in the community. In addition to Baby Bundles, Women United also supports families with the Wash & Read program which installed reading corners at several local laundromats. A family utilizing a laundromat spends anywhere from two to three hours at a time there, these reading corners allow parents and children to read while they are waiting. Children are also able to take their favorite books home with them to build up their home libraries.

Women United is a powerful, passionate network of women who influence change in our community through a focused investment of their time, talent, and resources. Women United focuses on early childhood development and literacy in Greater New Bedford. For more information on Women United visit www.unitedwayofgnb.org/women-united.