Announcing: The Team Abby Care Bags!

Yippee! I'm thrilled to announce that the project I've been cooking up for TEAM ABBY was approved by Jefferson Hospital. We still have many steps to take before we see it come to fruition, but this was the first hurdle and it seems as if we've cleared it!

Our goal is to create a sustainable program to supply long-term Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) families with a TEAM ABBY Care Bag upon arrival. This bag will be filled with items that are needed for the difficult months ahead, as well as comfort items to ease the way. As we found out, often times when your child is admitted to the ICN it is an emergency and not something you planned for. We were suddenly dumped into a situation where I was recovering from major surgery (a c-section) and we were far from home. As the weeks wore on, we didn't have any time to find or buy certain items that would have been very helpful to have. Care Bags can help ease that transition. I've been brainstorming ideas of items to include, and came up with the following:

• zippered tote (with TEAM ABBY logo)
• notebook/pen
• reusable water bottle (with TEAM ABBY logo)
• tissues
• hand sanitizer
• hand lotion
  
• gift cards to local eateries
• a "welcome" packet with helpful numbers, websites, and ideas
• lip balm
  
• baby blanket (to brighten up the crib)
• board book (for families to read to their baby when there are no words to say)
• a "lovey" (to watch over the little one)

A pink crocheted blanket cuddled Abby when we couldn't...

As this program grows, I hope to also lend (free of charge, of course) larger-ticket items for use in the ICN. These include things like a hand-held tape recorder (for recording your voice so the nurses can play it back when you are gone), a "womb bear", and a mobile for comfort and visual stimulation.

Abby's "lovey" keeps her warm and watches over her

My goal is to have the first batch of bags ready by the first of next year. That isn't much time when you consider all that needs to be done-- fundraising, printing, buying, packing, and distributing. This needs to be sustainable, so it's not a "one and done" process, which means proper planning is imperative!

How can you help?
Aside from monetary donations (which are always appreciated, just email me if interested until I can get an online widget up and running) there are many ways to help. First, does anyone know a screen printer who can give us a great rate on the tote bags and water bottles? Second, if you happen to be out and about and want to purchase new blankets, loveys or board books feel free to do so. You can send them to me and I'll make sure they are added to a bag. Third, let me know if you have any fundraising ideas. I do eventually want to make this an official non-profit but right now I'd like to get bags into the hands that need them. I need some easy/great fundraising ideas if you have any!
Thanks for the support, and I hope you love the Care Bags idea as much as I do. If you are a NICU parent (current or former), please comment or email with ideas of things we can add to the bags or our "lending library". I could use some additional insight.

Next Post: Care Bag Timeline (WHAT needs to be done, and by WHEN)