Non-profit collaboration provides bassinet boxes to families in need

WALLA WALLA—Becoming a new parent often brings a mix of emotions: among them, joy and stress, in the best of circumstances. Caring for a newborn when you lack basic resources can be particularly challenging and lead to health risks for both babies and parents.

 A new program called Care Crates aims to bridge this gap by sending new families home with bassinet boxes filled with the basic items needed to care for a newborn at home. The project is being funded through a new partnership between the Junior Club of Walla Walla and Providence St. Mary Foundation.

 Care Crates will include diapers, wipes, onesies, wash cloths, a sleep sack and other necessities. In addition, the packages are designed to connect new parents with long-term resources available in the community such as parenting education, Early Head Start, Parents as Teachers, WIC and other family support. “Our goal is to provide new families who have limited resources a better sense of security as they take home a new baby”, says Kylie Sheckler, President of Junior Club of Walla Walla.

 The container also serves a very special purpose. The container is a ‘Baby Bassinet Box’ which provides a lightweight, portable safe sleep space with a much smaller footprint than a traditional full-size crib. Finland first introduced the bassinet box in the 1930s when they started giving boxes away to moms-to-be at prenatal visits. Finland now has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world. Developed by leading public health, safety and product-development experts, the boxes are designed for babies, birth through six months, and are known to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

 More than 800 babies are born each year at Providence St. Mary. Care Crates will be distributed through the hospital’s case management team who work one-on-one with families to identify needs and provide social, emotional and financial support.

 “Junior Club was established in 1929 and our focus has evolved as community needs have changed. Our main objective is centered around providing volunteer opportunities and scholarships”, says Sheckler. “Working with Providence allowed us to identify an area of need that met our philanthropic interest as young women. Through joint efforts from new fundraising – like the Holiday Home Tour event - and the wonderful platform from the Foundation, Care Crates came to life. While we are just twenty women, we are twenty women with one big goal. And we believe that together, with the help of our community, we can make a real impact for these families in need.”

Donations can be made toward the Junior Club Restricted Fund in care of Providence St. Mary Foundation and mailed to PO Box 1477, Walla Walla, WA 99362 or made online at give.providence.org/wa/stmary.