The Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago (TVC) is pleased to announce the success of the BABY SHOWER Project. Its main goal was to help support needy infants and assure them the strong nutritional start that is essential to their on-going good health by meeting the desperate need for powdered baby formula experienced by impoverished families in this area. We conducted the BABY SHOWER Project with the same theme as the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, "everybody can be great because everybody can serve."
Under the direction of AmeriCorps VISTA member Kathleen Sueppel Kerman, The Volunteer Center's BABY SHOWER Project collected over $2000 (through large and small monetary donations) to buy powdered baby formula for needy families. Gift certificates donated by business partners Meijer, Sam's Club and Target were also used to purchase powdered formula. In-kind donations of baby formula products valuing close to $3000 were received at TVC; as were other baby products, including nearly 2000 disposable diapers and over 13,000 baby wipes. In total, over $6000 worth of products were distributed to our two member agencies on February 7, 2008.
Following this distribution date, The Volunteer Center has received additional in-kind donations of baby formula. Baby formula products valuing in excess of $200 were received, as of February 29, 2008. Since then, additional baby formula products worth an estimated $300 have been collected.
On February 7, 2008, several staffers and a volunteer from TVC joined with nine employee volunteers from corporate partner Washington Mutual to sort, count and package the products for delivery. The baby supplies were placed in 100 satchels donated by Argent Mortgage Company. The backpack-like satchels made excellent diaper bags! Volunteers assisted The Volunteer Center staff in delivering products collected during the BABY SHOWER. The excess baby items that did not fit in the satchels were distributed in bulk to PHD and Shelter, Inc.
TVC wishes to commend the generosity of individuals, businesses and families who donated to the BABY SHOWER Project. Thanks also are owed to our partners in the community who helped collect donations: Olive-Mary Stitt Elementary School, Our Lady of the Wayside School, St. Scholastica School, Thomas Middle School, NEC Display Solutions and PepsiAmericas employees. We would like to acknowledge Meijer, Sam's Club, and Target for donating gift certificates, as well.
