NEWBORNS IN NEED
Mesa Arizona Chapter
December 2004                 Volume 4 Issue 12

www.newbornsinneed.org

Karla Hiltner, RN at Phoenix Memorial Hospital, sent a card thanking us for recent donations:  “To all the wonderful people who use their talents to create such pretty outfits for our needy little ones. We thank you!  We have used the packs for both happy and sad times and the mothers appreciate the thoughtfulness.  Keep up the good work!”

Staci Glass, Children’s Angel Foundation Director of Philanthropic Development, wrote expressing thanks for our kindness and generosity to the babies at Los Niños Hospital.

Sandra Munoz, Volunteer Service Coordinator at Maricopa Integrated Health System, thanked us for the “wonderful artwork” we provided. “We realize that you put much of your heart into making a beautiful gift for our patients. In some instances, the bereavement gowns you provide are the only item which families have to bury their child. It has been extremely helpful in getting these items made by your volunteers.” She wanted to remind us that the dedication of our efforts helps bring a smile to individuals in need: “It is not always through the big events but through the small gestures that we touch people’s lives. The donations you provide do just that.”

Guest Speaker Summary – Dec. 3, 2004 Work Meeting

Vicki Vandenheuvel, RN and Infant Bereavement Coordinator at Chandler Regional Hospital, spoke at our meeting on Dec. 3, 2004.  She told us that each month they have about 425 births with 5 or 6 demises.  She thanked us for the bereavement layettes we have donated, “Each one we see is made with loving fingers and kind hearts made specifically for our grieving families.”  She reminded us that the memory envelopes need to be large enough to hold a packet of 8 ½” x 11” papers. She also said their greatest need is for smaller-sized layettes that would fit a 14-15 week baby, but they do like to have all sizes on hand because they just lost a full-term baby last week.  Their hospital likes to give the parents an extra outfit so they have one to keep and one to bury the baby in. Vickie really liked the small knitted pouch Rosemarie showed her and the tiny layettes Gini crochets.  She also said the small fabric pouches with the hoods would work well for them and mentioned that they need more layettes for boys than girls.  She said anything they receive that they don’t use; they pass along to St. Joseph’s. Vickie said that having these burial layettes helps the parents who have lost babies to heal faster. 

Chandler Regional sometimes has women give birth who have very little or nothing for their babies so they appreciate having clothing, blankets, and baby supplies available for them.  Vicki said they always need newborn-size knitted hats and booties, too. When asked if they dressed the babies in holiday items, she replied “no”, but changed her mind when she saw the cute Christmas hats and booties we made.

She was very grateful for the bereavement layettes we donated and said she would be happy to answer any questions we have and that she would be glad to speak to us again.

With your continuing help, we will make a difference in the lives of many children!!

Work Meeting

• Flannel Hooded Burial Pouches
• Show and Tell

Our next work meeting will be at JoAnn Fabrics, 965 S. Gilbert Road, Mesa, AZ from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, January 7th, 2005.  Please bring scissors and pins. Patterns and flannel will be provided.  We will also tie ribbon on sets of diapers, soap, and washcloths for our newborn kits.

Look What We Accomplished

In November, we received 1,304 items and 8½ pounds of fabric.  We donated 755 finished items with a total of 1373.5 volunteer hours. Donations were given to three hospitals: Chandler Regional, Phoenix Memorial, and St. Joseph’s.  Our donations included 24 newborn kits, 31 preemie layettes, 57 incubator blankets with burp cloths, 4 newborn burial layettes, 4 preemie burial layettes, 4 fetal burial layettes, 19 receiving blankets, 14 quilts, and 5 afghans.

 Since February 2001 we have received 42,206 items and given 30,536.2 volunteer hours of service. Our chapter has donated 38,662 finished items to area hospitals and other agencies serving babies in need.

Continuing Needs

We need hospital items in size small preemie, medium preemie and large preemie/newborn: hospital gowns, IV gowns, butterfly t-shirts, etc. We still need booties in both preemie and newborn sizes.

 We have many more crocheted or knitted afghans for burial layettes than sewn blankets. Presently, we need about equal numbers of burial layettes for boy and girls. 

Cash donations are very much appreciated to help us with postage and purchasing diapers, soap, or other supplies that aren’t donated.  Make checks payable to: Newborns in Need/Mesa AZ Chapter.  Contact: Shirleen Daniels, Chapter President  (480) 892-5986.

Drop Off Locations

 If you can’t make it to our monthly work meeting, we now have three locations for you to drop off your donations.  Please call for directions:  Northwest Phoenix, Danielle (602) 843-9339, Southeast Phoenix, Frances (480) 706-4317, East valley, Shirleen (480) 892-5986.

It’s not too late to sign up.  We are excited to be able to participate in the Bashas’ fundraising program, Thanks a Million For Friends and Neighbors. Take our number, 23506, and ask the cashier to link it to your Bashas’ Thank You Card. Then 1% of your total purchases Sept 13-March 31 will be donated to Newborns in Need (up to $2,500). Share this number with your friends and neighbors!