Welcoming a baby into the world can bring overwhelming feelings of joy for a new mother.
It also can bring anxiety and fear.
According to Washington State law, when a mother takes her newborn from the hospital in a vehicle, she is required to have the appropriate infant car seat in place. Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue requires the patient remove the car seat out of the box, secure it safely and correctly in the car, and have knowledge of how to use it prior to leaving the hospital.
This sounds reasonable enough, but what if a new mother is unable to afford an infant car seat. The average cost of a new infant car seat averages between $100 and $200 depending on the brand.
Fortunately for new mothers living in this area there is a helping hand nearby – Eastside Baby Corner (EBC), a local primary prevention agency that provides immediate assistance to children whose families are struggling with poverty, job loss, homelessness, immigration and other challenges.
Founded in 1990 by Karen Ridlon, a pediatric nurse practitioner, EBC supplies the essentials that children need, free of charge, through a network of community agencies. Instead of receiving requests directly from individual clients, local agencies such as Hopelink, YWCA and Eastside Domestic Violence Program submit weekly requests online. Each agency is allowed to request up to 20 items each week.
This includes infant car seats.
Eastside Baby Corner receives the majority of items through community donations and fundraisers. The donation drop off and distribution center is located in Issaquah in a large warehouse space donated by Rowely Properties. Hundreds of volunteers spend countless hours sorting, checking, organizing and bundling orders including clothing, blankets, books, toys, strollers, cribs and car seats.
“We provide everything that kids need to thrive from before birth to age 12,” said Helen Banks Routon, the Director of Development and Community Relations for EBC. “Imagine bringing a newborn home from the hospital and not having the essential items like a baby blanket or a crib. It’s a scary feeling. We try to help alleviate some of that fear.”
In 2009, EBC donated nearly $3 million worth of children’s clothing, furnishings, health and safety items. The items directly impacted an estimated 500 children each week for 50 weeks out of the year.
“The agencies who submit weekly orders identify the needs of specific families and children in our community and bring the order to us,” Routon explained. “This works as an advantage because they can be the eyes and ears on the ground for us. They may notice if a child does not have a coat to wear as it starts to get cold or if they are allergic to certain food. We customize the orders accordingly so we are helping in the most effective way possible.”
In addition to serving the many local agencies, EBC also purchases baby food, formula, diapers, cribs and car seats for 10 community food banks in east King County. Last year, the request for infant formula rose by 20 percent and the need for diapers increased by 28 percent.
“There is a definite need out there and it isn’t going away,” said Routon. “If anything, the need is only increasing.”
To help build a strong foundation for the 1000 volunteer hours that pour in each month, EBC leaders have made a strategic plan called Bridge to Sustainability to put stable funding into play and to bring in additional staff to support the volunteer efforts.
Local fundraisers such as the upcoming Bellevue Rotary Foundation Auction on May 8 will help raise the funds needed to build a strong foundation for a continued need in the community.
“We couldn’t accomplish all that we do if it wasn’t for the generous donations from the community and the amazing volunteers,” said Routon. “Eastside Baby Corner is a product of this wonderful community.”
Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425-453-4602.
To learn more about Eastside Baby Corner, visit www.babycorner.org.
Top 10 EBC Needs:
1. Long pants for boys & girls, sizes 3 to 8
2. Sweat pants & sweat shirts, sizes 3 to 10
3. Tennis shoes in all sizes
4. Socks & underwear for boys & girls, sizes 4-14
5. Warm coats, gloves & mittens for boys & girls, sizes 3-14
6. Pram suits and infant sweaters
7. Blanket sleepers size 3-6 months & 6-9 months
8. Formula (Powdered Similac, Isomil & Goodstart (Goodstart—milk base only)
9. Avent, Dr. Brown, and Playtex nipples size 1 and bottle liners
10. Cash Donations of all sizes
