It Takes a Village

Four times a year, the Homeless Prenatal Program http://www.homelessprenatal.org throws a baby shower for the expectant moms that use their services. Different groups come host the baby shower, providing lunch, diaper bags loaded with essentials and positive encouragement, for the moms to keep hope for the future. I went to the shower in March, to distribute the photos I took the previous month. I love when I get to see the faces of the moms when they see their photos! They see themselves in a whole new light. Beautiful, powerful, strong. Priceless.

I have been to many of their showers but this one really touched me. I met Lisa Truong, the director of Help A Mother Out. She was there to distribute diapers to the families of HPP. She told me about the non profit she founded last year, Help a Mother Out. Did you know that diapers and other hygiene products are not covered by WIC or food stamps? Pretty unbelievable to me. They collect diapers to distribute to those who need them. They will take any unused diapers off of your hands (even if it is not a sealed, full package) and get them to those who need them. They have drop boxes around the city. Check out their website. What a great need they are filling in these touch times. http://www.helpamotherout.org

I also met Jaon and Jan from the Baby Love Ministry. Joan Rocha founded Baby Love Ministry. They were there with a table full of hand knitted baby hats and blankets. They let the moms choose a hat and blanket to bring their baby home in. They are looking for knitters to knit hats and blankets for babies born at SF General Hospital. Many of the babies born at SF General are born to one parent families and placed in Foster Care.The blankets have little hang tags letting the baby know that someone prayed for them while knitting the blanket and they are already loved.
They provide yarn, if you need, and the patterns.  Such a wonderful gift for a newborn baby. Watching the moms read the hang tags and hold the soft, beautiful, hand made blankets was so touching. Please look at their website and pass on to any knitters you know. http://www.grace-episcopal.org/ministry-babylove.html

There were many more volunteers there. Linda Hannawalt teaches HPP clients to quilt. They go to classes a few times a week, create amazing baby quilts and then donate them to the pregnant clients who attend the prenatal education classes. Clients giving to other clients, what a concept. Each mom got to choose a quilt to take home for their baby. The quilts were exquisite.

There was a couple there that has dedicated there time specifically to raising money and awareness for HPP. I could go on and on. You see what I mean...

I feel so blessed to be involved with the Homeless Prenatal Community. Seeing all of the people involved with this organization is so inspiring. When we watch the news at night, they love to show the doom and gloom, and all things negative. If the news media started focussing on the amazing things regular people are doing in the community to strengthen the bonds of their community, I think we would all be inspired to do good, knowing it is not a loosing battle. I always walk away from HPP feeling so lifted. As they say, "It takes a village". Get involved in your village today.
A year ago, we first learned that diapers and other hygiene supplies are not covered by safety-net programs like food stamps or WIC. We also learned that in these hard times, more and more families have to choose between buying diapers and buying food. This was completely unacceptable to us, so we created a fledgling campaign Help a Mother Out, to help improve the lives of mothers, children, and families, one diaper at a time. A year ago, we first learned that diapers and other hygiene supplies are not covered by safety-net programs like food stamps or WIC. We also learned that in these hard times, more and more families have to choose between buying diapers and buying food. This was completely unacceptable to us, so we created a fledgling campaign Help a Mother Out, to help improve the lives of mothers, children, and families, one diaper at a time. ago, we first learned that diapers and other hygiene supplies are not covered by safety-net programs like food stamps or WIC. We also learned that in these hard times, more and more families have to choose between buying diapers and buying food. This was completely unacceptable to us, so we created a fledgling campaign Help a Mother Out, to help improve the lives of mothers, children, and families, one diaper at a time.
A year ago, we first learned that diapers and other hygiene supplies are not covered by safety-net programs like food stamps or WIC. We also learned that in these hard times, more and more families have to choose between buying diapers and buying food. This was completely unacceptable to us, so we created a fledgling campaign Help a Mother Out, to help improve the lives of mothers, children, and families, one diaper at a time. year ago, we first learned that diapers and other hygiene supplies are not covered by safety-net programs like food stamps or WIC. We also learned that in these hard times, more and more families have to choose between buying diapers and buying food. This was completely unacceptable to us, so we created a fledgling campaign Help a Mother Out, to help improve the lives of mothers, children, and families, one diaper at a time.