Today is the eighth day of my mission to spread kindness and help others. In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, please read: Join My Give Back Mission to Spread Kindness and Say Thank You.
Having a baby is always a life-altering event. While all four of my pregnancies and birth stories were slightly different there was one thing the same – I was able to bring home my babies within 48 hours of giving birth. My births were uncomplicated and considered routine (although it never feels routine at the moment).
For families who give birth to a premature baby, nothing is routine. The birth is just the beginning of the story. It is just the beginning of a long road filled with fear, long hospital stays, and worry. Your baby is placed into the care of the doctors and nurses at the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), while you watch, pray, and hope for the day when you can bring home your baby.
Preemies Today, is a Washington, DC organization that advocates for the needs of families experiencing the traumatic event of a premature birth. This non-profit provides resources, education, support, and helps to build a community of parents going through similar experiences.
From the moment you give birth, Preemies Today is there to support families by delivering preemie care packages to hospitals in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. They also organize family outings, preemie playgroups, preemie support groups, infant-loss support groups, parent-to-parent mentoring programs, and a take a break program to provide families with meals and support.
On April 28, Preemies Today will mark its 10th Anniversary with a special fundraiser co-hosted by PB & Jack in Fairfax, Va. PB & Jack opened in December as a supervised play area for kids to crawl, run, climb and play – while you relax or take classes. A portion of the day’s proceeds will be donated to Preemies Today. The event will run from 12 pm to 5 pm and feature children’s entertainment, face painting, balloons, cupcakes and raffle items.
Also in support of Preemies Today’s NICU Baby Showers, PB & Jack will be collecting new or gently used baby clothes in sizes preemie and newborn. Donations will be collected from March 30 through April 28.
Please consider supporting this organization, which has helped many families in the Washington, DC area. I plan on doing a drive within my daycare to collect clothes, which I will deliver to PB & Jack in support of Preemies Today.
If you can’t attend the PB & Jack fundraiser, or don’t have clothes to donate, consider donating to Preemies Today in remembrance of a special person or in celebration of a special occasion. Click here to learn how you can donate.
Good Deed Idea of the Day
Today, I am going to show my neighbors I care with a special care package of baked goods. Nothing says I’m thinking about you more than some yummy treats. Whether it’s your neighbor, your co-worker, or your grandmother who lives alone, offering baked goods is definitely a way to spread some kindness. Why wait for the annual cookie exchange during the holidays to do it? And with the snow we are expecting in the Washington, DC area I can’t think of a better time to get baking!
