Vincent Newborn Necessities
Vincent Newborn Necessities is an outreach program of The Vincent Club, in partnership with the Vincent Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital. VNN provides essentials for mothers and infants of the MGH/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 in the spring of 2009 to supply basic necessities to Maternity patients and their soon to be born Vincent babies.
Vincent Newborn Necessities serves approximately 35 families each month and the number increases as word spreads. We collect gently used clothing from our members, their families and friends, and a few local stores. However, each month we are in need of a fresh supply of donations and diapers.
Vincent Club volunteers travel to the Chelsea clinic once a month. We provide a “Necessities Kit”*, diapers and wipes for the expectant mothers as well as baby clothes (0-24 months to 3T) for their other children. Many of the women we assist are recent immigrants; most are uninsured, unemployed, and homeless (some in shelters, some not). They are invited by coordinators in the Maternal and Child Health Department to join us at the fourth floor conference room to “shop” for their baby(ies) while enjoying the camaraderie of the other pregnant and new mothers. Newborn Necessities quickly became an anticipated monthly event by the women patients at the Chelsea clinic and the word continues to spread.
The stories of these women are heart-breaking, and their need is unfathomable. Often having to make the choice between purchasing food for their family or diapers for their new baby, food comes first. What seems a necessary convenience to us is a luxury for them and your donation, no matter how small, will make a difference. Please contact us to see how you can help.
*One “Necessities Kit” includes Newborn “Onesies”, Newborn socks, Newborn sleep sacks, two footed p.j.‘s, two Newborn caps and one blanket.
2011 MGH/Chelsea Clinic Visiting days are:
Wed., January 25, 2012 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM
List of items we accept:
Bath Towels
Bibs without plastic trim
Blankets
Clothing sizes 0-24 months
Diaper bags
Shoes/Booties for Infants
Diapers-New (unopened) packages of Size N or 1
Baby Wipes-New (unopened) packages
Infant bath care products New (unopened)
Diaper Ointment-New (unopened)
*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
Breast Pumps
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. Pick up a receipt for your donation when you drop off it off at 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 those who have contributed to Vincent Newborn Necessities.
Isis Parenting
http://www.isisparenting.com
(Please keep them in mind when you are shopping for children’s clothing!)
Vincent Club members
Various church and parenting groups