Old baby clothes give new moms hope

IN 2005, shortly after the birth of her second daughter, local businesswoman, Cindy Norcott, began to wonder how many less fortunate babies could benefit from the clothes her little one had already grown out of. This thought, generated while feeding her newborn, led to the launch of The Robin Hood Foundation’s Love The Babies project.

“Of the 1.1 million babies born every year in South Africa, 300 000 are born to HIV positive mothers. Our Love the Babies bag is essentially a baby shower in a bag, supplying bags of pre-loved baby clothes, toiletries and other essential baby goods to needy mums with newborn babies from poor, AIDS affected communities, at the government hospitals we visit every 6 to 8 weeks,” said Founder and Chairlady of The Robin Hood Foundation, Norcott.

“These projects really do pull on the heartstrings of the teams of volunteers who join us on the visits, as these babies have very little, some have absolutely nothing and most times we arrive, the babies are lying wrapped in a hospital blanket in only a nappy. You cannot even imagine the incredible joy of the new mums as they unpack their Love the Babies bags and quickly dress their little ones in the donated clothes and swaddle them in the blankets,” she added.

Robin Hood is appealing to all mums in the community to help spread the love this February to these new mums and newborns. Donate pre-loved baby clothes, beanies, booties (sizes newborn to 12 months), blankets toweling nappies, unused disposable nappies, unused toiletries and knitted baby items.

“We are particularly in desperate need of baby boys’ clothing for our March visit,” said the co-ordinator of the foundation, Kim Griffith Jones. “And as we host these projects all year long, we would be so grateful for any community donations as, and when, your babies are growing out of their clothes. What a blessing to know that your little one’s outfits are getting a second life, clothing a newborn who otherwise would’ve had nothing.”

Your donations can be dropped off at Pro Appointments, Suite 6, The Views, 11 The Boulevard, Westway Office Park, Westville at Chilli Source Designs, 62 Old Main Road, Kloof or at Wool ‘n Weave, Lillies Quarters, Old Main Road, Hillcrest. Alternatively, if you’d like to get involved and help make a difference, contact The Robin Hood Foundation on robinhoodfund@telkomsa.net.