They're our newest and most vulnerable little community members and a Valley group making sure newborns get a solid start when they leave the hospital is looking for volunteers.
Arizona Needy Newborns puts together special care kits that are sent home with low-income families and they also create specialty items to help care for preemies in the NICU. The kits include a little outfit, wash cloths, soap, blankets, burp cloths, diapers and much of it is handmade. ANN distributes over 3,000 items every month to 25 hospitals around the state. They also make soft positioning tools to help preemies and incubator covers that help protect sensitive babies from the bright lights and sounds.
Some in the group had kids or grandkids who've needed extra hospital care, others enjoy the comradery; for all of them it’s a labor of love.
"We truly are making these things for the love of babies and for the encouragement we hope this provides for that family.” said ANN Secretary Doris Dorwart.
Saturday, July 29th the group is hosting its Christmas in July work party event and inviting the public to help. There are tasks as simple as stuffing handmade toys, others will sew those closed afterward. Those who can crochet are needed to finish the edges of blankets and tie off some of the quilts that have been made. In November, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, there’s a follow-up event where volunteers are needed to help fill hundreds of giant stockings with handmade gifts for newborns to be given out at Christmas.
ANN is 100% volunteer operated and funded so the group always needs donations of yarn, material, newborn diapers and cash. If you like to craft you can donate time and if you like to bargain hunt they need shoppers too. The group meets monthly in Ahwatukee and Mesa.
For more information email Doris Dorwart with the subject line ANN to: dddorwart@hotmail.com
Christmas in July work party
Arizona Needy Newborns
1415 E. Southern Ave.
Mesa, AZ
Saturday July 29th 10 a.m. - Noon
