Serving mums in need
The Love the Babies initiative has helped dozens of desperate mums from Aids-affected communities to clothe their babies.
ONE cannot imagine living in such dire straights that your only option is to wrap your newborn baby in newspaper. However, this is the reality for some mothers living in Aids-affected and rural communities here in Durban.
This according to Mount Edgecombe resident, Tunya Schoeman, who has actively been involved in an initiative run by The Robin Hood Foundation, dedicated to alleviating the needs of these desperate mothers.
“This was one of many cases where new mums literally have nothing for their babies. She had nothing to wrap her baby in when she left the hospital. No warm blanket or soft baby romper – only newspaper,” she added.
In order to combat these heartbreaking situations, dedicated volunteers of the Love the Babies initiative have been fundraising and hosting collections to ‘build’ and deliver baby shower bags to needy mums in rural communities.
The project, which led to the inception of the foundation by Durban resident, Cindy Norcott, strives to equip new mums with all the items she would need for her baby’s first year.
Over the last decade, the foundation has managed to donate 16 000 of these bags – which contain towel nappies, second-hand and new baby clothes, booties, bibs, blankets, toiletries, towels and toys.
“It is such a wonderful initiative to be a part of, especially when you are involved in the drop-offs. You can see the delight and gratitude in the faces of these mums, many of whom are in desperate need, so much so that they clothe their babies then and there,” she said.
Potential volunteers who do not have the time or means to be a part of the drop-offs can also participate by either donating old or new items or assist with the sorting or packing of the bags, said Schoeman.
This year, the volunteers are striving to donate bags to 5 000 new mothers on a monthly basis.
While the organisation often makes deliveries at various Durban-based hospitals, such as King Edward Hospital and Addington Hospital, they also provide for mothers identified by local churches, pregnancy crisis centres and concerned individuals. Norcott said she hoped to expand their reach north of Durban.
- Donations can be dropped off at several stations in the area: Durban North Pharmacy, Broadway Pharmacy, Pro Appointments and Lasting Impressions in Westville, The Firm in Kloof, Wool ‘n Weave in Hillcrest as well as Pot & Kettle in Botha’s Hill.
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