This past month, JLT volunteers created newborn starter kit bundles for the new moms and newborns at HOPE Community. Volunteers collected new items including onesies, burp cloths, bottles, pacifiers, bath supplies, diapers, wipes, nail clippers, thermometers, and lovies and filled 26 diaper backpacks to get our newborns at HOPE off to a good start in life.
Annie Rada, Volunteer Coordinator at HOPE Community, recognizes the immediate need for these items: "On average, a middle-income family spends about $13,000 on their baby's first year (USDA, 2015), while a single parent working a full-time minimum wage job makes $17,992 annually. Being homeless and pregnant facing those costs becomes less stressful when new mothers know that the initial needs of the baby are taken care of. This allows them to continue to save to secure housing and shorten their family's experience of homelessness. Mothers gifted with a new mommy bag have a huge weight lifted off their shoulders, and feel the encouragement and support they need to prevail."
Big Bend Homeless Coalition's HOPE Community provides emergency shelter to families with minor children and works to end family homelessness by providing residents with tools for employment and education, assistance with housing options, and access to supportive services. Every year, over 70% of HOPE’s residents return to stable housing. Visit BigBendHC.org to learn more about this community partner doing amazing work for children and families in our community.
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