(JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 21, 2010) – On Wednesday, Dec. 22, March of Dimes volunteers will visit Jacksonville-area Neonatal Intensive Care Units to deliver care packages to families with babies in the hospital over the holidays. Deliveries are scheduled for 12 p.m. at Baptist Medical Center Downtown and Baptist Medical Center South.
The Northeast Florida Division’s “Bundles of Love” project is coordinated by volunteers from the Family Teams Advisory Council and Chain Reaction Youth Leadership. The bags contain items that might be useful to a family who suddenly has found themselves in the NICU without preparation. Some items included are cameras, hand sanitizer, water, snacks, food coupons, notepads, baby blankets, clothing, holiday cards and more. There is also a NICU Parent’s Guide from former NICU parents. All items in the bags are donated.
“Bundles of Love” was conceived in 2009 when the members of the Family Teams Advisory Council wanted to reach out to families who were facing stays in the NICU over Christmas. Many of the members have faced stays in the NICU with their own babies. Members of Chain Reaction, the youth leadership group of the March of Dimes, support the project with donations and delivery assistance.
“I have experienced the heartbreak of the NICU twice with both my boys,” Family Teams Advisory Council President Lauren Hall-Davis said. “The NICU is a tough place and not having your entire family home for the holidays is even harder. Providing these ‘Bundles of Love’ to NICU families should make their stay a little bit easier.”
This is the second year for the “Bundles of Love” project. Beginning in 2011, volunteers will deliver the care packages twice a year; once in the summer and once over the holidays. The project supports NICUs in Baptist Medical Center/Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Baptist Medical Center South, Shands Jacksonville, Memorial Hospital and Orange Park Medical Center.
The Family Teams Advisory Council is comprised of dedicated March of Dimes volunteers whose goal is to increase the awareness of March of Dimes throughout Northeast Florida and support families who have been touched by its mission.
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.