News & Photos
Community Baby Shower Gives Babies Healthy Start
November 04, 2009Event Exceeds Goal
Nashville, Tenn., November 4, 2009 - United Way of Metropolitan Nashville addressed a serious health issue by hosting a community-wide baby shower that filled more than 1,000 bags with items needed to give newborns a healthy start.
More than 120 volunteers from Nashville area companies, organizations and individuals gathered at the United Way offices on October 29th to fill colorful bags with diapers, formula, clothing and other supplies mothers need to care for their infants. More than 60,000 items were gathered.
United Way says critical conditions called for action in Davidson County: One in nine infants are born to women receiving late or no prenatal care; each week 24 babies are born preterm,16 are born low birth weight, and one will die before age one.
The first-time event benefitted seven United Way partner agencies serving at-risk mothers in the community: Catholic Charities, The Next Door, Nurses for Newborns, Renewal House, Salvation Army, United Neighborhood Health Services and YWCA. The agencies will distribute the bags to their clients.
“We exceeded our goal for this day of action event,” said Melanie Shinbaum, senior manager of community engagement for United Way. “In one day, more than 120 volunteers donated over 300 hours of service. And when you include the value of the bags, our financial impact for the day was more than $62,000. That’s the power of working united.”
Due to the success of this Day of Action volunteer opportunity, United Way officials are considering making the community baby shower an annual event.
