California Stake Joins Other Faiths for a “Tender Hearts for Babies” Workday
Contributed By Sharon Brown, Church News contributor
Members of the Upland California Stake Relief Society worked with other faith groups to compile newborn kits for the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center on March 26, 2016.
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More than a hundred women joined together to assemble a thousand kits for newborn babies at the “Tender Hearts for Babies” workday on Saturday, March 26. Each kit contained a receiving blanket, a knit or crocheted hat, a pacifier, a onesie, and some diapers. Women from area churches and neighborhoods made the blankets and hats and donated money over a period of several months.
“I love to serve,” said participant Karen Bird. “Serving is the best feeling in the world. Today we accomplished a worthy goal with other like-minded women.”
LouAnne Hardy added, “especially knowing we are helping new moms have something for their precious little ones.”
The kits will be donated to mothers who have nothing for their premature or newborn babies to wear home from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in San Bernardino.
Sue Blake, Upland California Stake's Relief Society president, organized the project at the request of the medical center. She presented the idea to the Upland Interfaith Council and the Upland Community Service Council and received enthusiastic support from many organizations.
Participating in the service project were the Unity Church of Pomona, St. Anthony’s Ladies Guild, St. Anthony’s Knitting and Crocheting Society, First Presbyterian of Upland Knitting Group, St. Joseph’s, Upland Community Service Council, Upland stake Primary girls, the Relief Societies of five wards, and the Spanish Branch of the Upland stake. The Middle Ground Muslim Center donated 100 complete kits, and generous donations came from neighbors in Upland and Alta Loma on the social media app Nextdoor.
“I am so amazed and humbled by everyone’s generosity and willingness to serve,” Sister Blake said of the response. “We actually exceeded our very lofty goal of 1,000 kits. What an answer to prayers.”
Women of the Upland California Stake work with women of other faith groups to assemble newborn kits on March 26, 2016. Photo by David Thomas.
Newborn kits that consist of hats, blankets, pacifiers, diapers, and clothes are packaged by the Upland California Stake Relief Society on March 26, 2016. Photo by David Thomas.
