TITLE
Recommendation to request City Council to receive and file a report on the Fifth Annual Community Baby Shower.
DISCUSSION
In the mid-1990's, as a Registered Nurse Practitioner, Councilwoman Schipske started the "Community Baby Shower" to provide a "basic going-home newborn kit" for low-income mothers to use after they gave birth in our local hospitals. She re-Iaunched this project in 2008 in partnership with Long Beach Cares and the Long Beach Health Department, due to her passion to insure that every new mother in Long Beach has the basic items and resources for this new stage in their lives, the immediate need for basic baby items for these expectant mothers, and to allow the Public Health Nurses to use this "newborn kits", as an incentive for expectant mothers who were in the process of completing a pre-natal care and educational program.
Over the last five years this annual project, despite the downturn in the economy, has grown to not only including key baby items such as: diapers, baby wipes, blanket, oneies, socks, bids and infant hats, but also provided baby home safety items, books, baby monitors, car seats and vital information on breastfeeding, prenatal depression and new mother support groups.
With the help of key Long Beach businesses, community groups, college students and residents, this project has raised over $9,000 and created 900 "newborn kits" for expecting mothers. The donors over the last five years include: Long Beach Cares, Junior League of Long Beach, Grace First Presbyterian Church, NAACP- Long Beach Chapter, Le Leche League, Long Beach Little Ones, Costco, Long Beach Missionary Alliance, Kidz Head 2 Toe, Long Beach League of Women Voters, St. Mary Hospital, Long Beach Moms Meetup Group, Alpert Jewish Community Center, Jewish Federation, Target, Sam's Club, Kaiser Permanente, Long Beach Memorial, Friends of Long Beach Fire Fighters, Stitches from the Heart, Binky Patrol of North Long Beach, Postal Annex, Law Office of Sandra H. Castro, Soroptimist International of Long Beach, Campfire USA, Girl Scout Troop 2983, City Presbyterian Church, Long Beach Orange Ave. Senior Center Sewing Class, Quilters by the Sea, Students of Chapman University and numerous individuals.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILWOMAN GERRIE SCHIPSKE
FIFTH DISTRICT