Vincent Newborn Necessities
Vincent Newborn Necessities is an outreach program of The Vincent Club, in partnership with the Vincent Obstetrics & Gynecology Service at Massachusetts General Hospital, providing clothing and other essentials for mothers and infants of the Chelsea Health Care Center.
Our Vincent/MGH doctors indicated a dire need for the patients they see at the Chelsea Health Care Center, and in response, we created Vincent Newborn Necessities to supply basic necessities to those patients and their soon to be born babies. Newborn Necessities was created in the spring of 2009 and has quickly become an anticipated monthly event by the women in Chelsea.
Many of the women we meet are recent immigrants; most are uninsured, unemployed, and homeless (some in shelters, some not). We go to Chelsea once a month with the new and gently used maternity clothes, baby clothes (0-24 months) and diapers. The women get to “shop” for themselves and their baby without having to pay. The ability to choose what they want is empowering and for that they are very grateful.
We work with approximately 25 families per month and hope to increase that number as donations grow. We collect gently used clothing from our members, their family and friends, and various local stores. However, we are constantly in need of donations and would appreciate your help.
The stories of these women are heart-breaking, and their need is unfathomable.
Here are the realities of the lives of two of the women that we have met so far:
A woman with a 10 year old, a 7 year old, and a 4 year old is pregnant with twins on bed rest.
Originally from Central America, she was recently relocated to Chelsea from the South under protective custody since her boyfriend brutally beat her and the children.
A 16 year old girl from Mexico. Her mother paid money to have her smuggled into the US. The
smuggler decided that the mother had not paid them enough and held the girl hostage for 25
days (during which she was repeatedly raped by several men). Eventually she was released and
is now pregnant with one of those men’s babies.
List of items we accept:
Bath Towels
Bibs without plastic trim
Blankets
Clothing size 0-24 month
Diaper bags
Shoes/Booties for Infants
Maternity clothes
New (never used) car seats
New (unopened) packages of diapers
New (unopened) packages of baby wipes
New (unopened) infant bath care products
Financial Support
*Items must be free of decorative trim such as: rhinestones, soft vinyl or painted buttons, metallic thread, zippers that can be chewed, or anything with lead content
Items that we CANNOT accept:
Cribs, Crib Bumpers, Crib Sheets
Furniture
Mattresses
Strollers
Used Car Seats
Stuffed Animals
Toys
Opened packages of diapers
Please follow these simple tips for your donations:
1. Please make sure all clothing has been washed. Note that all clothing needs to be free of stains (food, grass, etc.) in order for us to be able to donate it. Do not contribute anything you would not want your child to wear.
2. Place your goods in heavy-duty garbage bags or sturdy boxes.
3. Make sure you determine the estimated value of your donation for tax purposes. (General rule: donation value is 50% of retail cost.) We will give you a tax form when you drop off your donation to the clubhouse.
Please call the Vincent Club at 617-523-3900 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for further information.
We are grateful to our retail partners. These establishments make regular contributions to Vincent Newborn Necessities. Keep them in mind when you are next shopping for children’s clothing!
Isis Maternity at the Prudential Center, Boston
http://www.isismaternity.com/locations/boston_center
The Nutshell at the Milton Marketplace, owned by Nancy Doyle
http://www.thenutshellmilton.com
Auntie Erl’s Exchange in Bedford, owned by Elizabeth Nemirovsky
http://www.auntieerl.com
Mulberry Road, 46 Gloucester Street, Boston
http://www.mulberryroad.com
Patagonia Boston
http://www.patagonia.com