The Healing Power of Touch

Be a baby cuddler. According to this excellent guide for volunteers at volunteerguide.org/hours/service-projects/baby-cuddlers, “Baby cuddlers are needed in orphanages, neonatal hospital units, group homes, nurseries, and wherever else there are babies and young children who may not have adequate human contact early in life to begin developing social interaction skills.” What could be better than helping a baby survive and thrive?

Welcome to the World!

    Assemble a baby care kit to help young mothers in need with newborns. Visit the Church World Service website for information on what to pack and where to send the shipment at cwsglobal.org/get-involved/cws-kits/baby-care-kits.html

Lessen the Landfill in Your Daily Decisions

    Diaper with a conscience. By the time a child is potty trained, a parent will have changed between 5,000 and 8,000 diapers, adding up to approximately 3.5 million tons of waste in US landfills each year. Whether you use cloth or a more environmentally friendly disposable alternative, you’re making a choice that has a gentler impact on the planet.

What People Really Need

    Much of the time, kindness is good common sense. Just think about what people really need. In low-income families with no other options, an infant can spend the entire wearing the same diaper. Due to a lack of funds, some parents cannot afford to change their baby’s diaper more than once a day, and most laundromats do not allow cloth diapers to be washed in their machines. Help out a family in need to cover the basics by donating diapers through the Diaper Bank Network at diaperbanknetwork.org.

Compassionate Crafts

    Some of my friends love to knit and crochet. Everyone I know has already had a colorful throw given to them, so what to do with all the products of all that handiwork? Look no further! 

    The Red Scarf Project (fc2success.org/how-you-can-help/red-scarf-project/) is looking for knitters to donate homemade red scarves for foster children in school. Whether you just learned to knit and purl or you are an expert, you can send encouragement and warmth to a foster student with a simple scarf. 

    Newborns in Need (newbornsinneed.org) would love clothing and bedding items for newborn, sick, needy, and premature babies. You can donate blankets, hats, booties, and afghans. All they ask is that you use the softest yarn possible. 

    Warming Families (warmingfamilies.webs.com) is a 100% volunteer-run project that delivers donated blankets and other warm items to the homeless and displaced. They supply to local shelters and nursing homes.

The Healing Power of Touch

    Be a baby cuddler. Once restrictions are lifted and hugs are okay to do again outside of your household, start looking for opportunities to do this necessary task. According to this excellent guide for volunteers at volunteer guide.org/service-projects/baby-cuddlers, "Baby cuddlers are needed in orphanages, neonatal hospital units, group homes, nurseries, and wherever else there are babies and young children who may not have adequate human contact early in life to begin developing social interaction skills." What could be better than helping a baby survive and thrive?

Welcome to the World!

     Assemble a baby care kit to help young mothers in need with newborns. With the pandemic and quarantines still continuing, help has never been so necessary for these amazing women and their babies. Lend a helping hand by visiting the Church World Service website for information on what to pack and where to send the shipment for its week-long quarantine at cwsglobal.org/get-involved/cws-kitds/baby-care-kits/html.