As part of Yale University’s annual Day of Service, YSN hosted “Newborns in Need” on Saturday, May 7, 2016. In total, 140 bags were assembled with diapers, clothing, books and other essential items, and will be delivered to mothers at Yale-New Haven Hospital Saint Raphael Campus last week. The event was co-sponsored by the Yale Child Study Center.
YSN Dean Ann Kurth spoke briefly at the event, explaining that there is value in supporting the local community. St. Raphael’s experiences approximately 80 births per month. With the bags, YSN hopes to accommodate at least two months of births at the hospital.
Part of the school’s goal with Newborns in Need is promoting breast-feeding, and increased reading to and with children. Along with at least one book, a personal note was included in each bag encouraging mothers to regularly read to their children.
In the months leading up to the event, the YSN community worked together to collect essential items for mothers and their newborns. More than 50 volunteers, including Yale College alumni and YSN alumni, faculty, staff, and students gathered together to assemble the bags on May 7.
Next year, YSN aims to continue the theme of Newborns in Need, but with ambitious plans to expand the project beyond Yale’s Day of Service event. Interested in getting involved? Email Caitlin.Gasiorski@yale.edu or call 203-737-2137.
View a slideshow of photos from YSN’s 2016 Day of Service.
(Photos by Joseph Vumbaco.)