The birth of a child brings much joy, but sometimes it can be hard on a new mother and the baby’s closest family when considering expenses and time.

Newborns In Need, based in North Carolina, was developed to help give these new families something special and helpful for their new bundles of joy.

Madison’s Angels, the Newborns In Need chapter in Polk County, Missouri, makes deliveries of its donations to a wide variety of locations in the southwest Missouri area such as:

• Alpha House in Bolivar
• Polk County Health Department
• Ozarks Community Hospital
• Birthright
• Pregnancy Care Center
• Harmony House

The Scoop sat down with the chapter’s project coordinator Terresa DeWitt, who has been volunteering with the group for more than 10 years, to ask “Just how can someone help a newborn in need?”

Get involved step 1: Donate supplies or money to a local Newborns In Need chapter.

Newborns In Need runs on the donations it receives, and no amount is too small. The group will accept monetary donations as well as the following supplies to create the gifts for new mothers: fabric, clothes, toiletries, and diapers.

The group typically puts together what is known as a “layette” that includes:

• one sleeper or gown
• one bib and one burp cloth
• one set of mitts and one hat
• one receiving blanket and one quilt

“We try to make them super nice for the families who weren’t necessarily ready for the pregnancy,” says DeWitt. “Something that helps a new mom is having a nice outfit to take her baby out in, despite maybe not being as secure in the new situation.”

Get involved step 1 — bonus round: Throw a donation baby shower.

Typically the easiest way for a new mother to receive a lot of things for her new baby is by holding a baby shower before the birth. Newborns In Need encourages volunteers to hold an occasional baby shower in memory of those who may not be fortunate to hold one of their own.

Send out invitations with a list of supplies needed, provide snacks and games if you would like, but feel free to have just as much fun celebrating all of the new lives being brought into the area.

Get involved step 2: Donate your time to a local Newborns In Need chapter.

Meetings for the Madison’s Angels chapter are held every second Thursday of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Polk County Library, at 1690 W. Broadway in Bolivar.  While at meetings volunteers can help sort out donations, cut donated fabric, and/or create layette bundles.  You do not even need to stay the entire time, you can just help as much or as little as you can.

Volunteers can even take special projects home such as sewing sleepers together or putting elastic on mitts or even crocheting hats and/or booties.  “With some of our sewers, it works just as much for their therapy as it benefits the mothers and babies,” said DeWitt of her fellow volunteers.

Get involved step 2 — bonus round:

Each year, Newborns In Need does one fundraiser outside of its typical acceptance of donations — its Cookies in a Jar event.  Orders are taken for cookies, and then volunteers build the jars from donated flour, sugar, and other supplies donated by local restaurants and grocery stores.

Get involved step 3: If you know the parents of a newborn, spend some time with them.

Sometimes, a new parent just needs a break.  If you know someone who has recently had a child, try offering your time to help watch the baby or even offer to take the new mom and her baby out for the day to get them out of the house, DeWitt says.  The new mom will appreciate the fellow adult interaction and you will get to fawn over the new baby.

Get involved step 4: Help get the word out for Newborns In Need.

Even if what you or a friend might have to donate might not work for Newborns In Need, Dewitt says: “Whatever donations we get, we try to distribute to where the need is.” She asks people to help spread the word about the organization.

For example, when Newborns In Need receives donations of clothing for young men, it donates them to the local boys’ ranch.