Baskets for NICU Parents

Thank you Donna! I see what you mean about wording...but...it still brought you and me comfort....so I'll bet parents will not look to hard at the words as much as the meaning of the words as they hook together! The Holland poem is very beautiful, and I am sure that the gift of words that you have extended to the NICU baskets will be very much appreciated by parents who are heartbroken and terrified....Thank YOU!

Melissa Middleton

Okay guys,

Put your creative minds to work for the common good of preemie parents!

I am creating scrapbook envelopes with small pockets on the outside. These pocket holders will have a space for first picture, foot prints, hand prints, and crib card.

Any ideas on how to cheaply and fairly easily do this....as I have a bunch to make...also, I would like for it to be as cute as it possibly can be...so I know you are the crowd to come to for cute, right?

Thanks!

Melissa Middleton

Melissa,

I am trying to imagine what you mean... but I can't picture it. Must be because I only had 2 shots of espresso in my coffee today. LOL. Can you explain again to my ill-wired brain?

Sure Darcy,

Okay, the envelopes are generic white (like at office depot) so large enough to mail something in (though I am not mailing anything) on the outside there are 3 small pasted envelopes and a square saying (post picture here). So there is available space for the footprints...fingerprints...first picture...etc.

So, the problem is - I want to dress these envelopes up...like you would for a scrapbook...I would love ideas on how to do this cheaply but look really nice....and my scrapbook share buddies (like you) I know can help me think of a clever idea for this....

Hopefully I making sense...I had my shot of espresso so I don't have an excuse!

Melissa Middleton

Melissa,

Ok, I think I have a better understanding now. (Blame the coffee, not the upcoming *30*!)

I think the most cost-effective way would be to invest in a set of baby themed stamps. Stickers are consumable and stamps can be used over and over and an ink pad goes a long way. Do they have an "Archivers" in TX? They have sooo many little hands and feet... rocking horses, baby blocks, etc. Also a company called Stampin' Up has online samples of all their stamps, but you'll need to find a consultant (like Creative Memories or Avon) in order to purchase. Perhaps we have a SHARE member who is a Stampin' Up consultant who could donate the stamps and write it off??? (Girls????)

That's probably what I would do. As far as knowing *how* to stamp. I have no idea. But I bet someone will!!

Best of luck to you, you have a heart of gold.
Darcy

Darcy,

That is a great idea, and one that I completely failed to think about...! Thank You! I'll look into that as soon as possible!

Melissa

Melissa,

Jumping on Darcy's stamp idea....they have rolling stamps too that would make a cute border. I've seem them at Michael's and other scrapbook stores. You can download borders too off some scrapping websites (www.scrapjazz.com or www.creativekeepsakes.com) but then you would have to print them for each envelope and adhere them. I'll keep thinking and I'll check out my scrap mags too. What a great idea!

Donna

Hi Melissa,
I just wanted to let you know that you've inspired me to do something similar in our NICU. There was no support group or anything when I had my son - my husband and I were just in this limbo type hell. The NICU couldn't even find a pamphet on premature birth to give to me for 2 days! Anyway, I was just doing some research on buying wholesale and I found this website
www.nextlevelsavings.com - I haven't ordered anything yet, but they have all kinds of trial size stuff that you can buy in bulk....
 
Take care,
Donna

Donna!

Thank you so much for the GREAT tip! I just checked out the site...and I think that this new devleopment has great potential to help us help a greater number of people. (I am on the internet every day..and did not even think of looking up deals online!)

Thank YOU!

Melissa

Dear SHARE Friends,

Many of you gave great feedback about what should be put into the "Welcome" NICU baskets! Thank you so much. I love to give credit where credit is due...and SHARE was thanked on the list of those who helped make the baskets possible!

Also, the MOD's gave me LOTS of GREAT information to put into the baskets...and donated some wonderful journals! So of course, the MOD's is greatly appreciated too.

Because I am so grateful, I also added the SHARE and MOD websites to the greeting cards attached to the baskets.

Please know that you made a difference today to lots of families! Your input and support is invaluable!

Hugs,

Hey Melissa,
I just got my Oriental Trader catalog today (a teacher's best friend!!!!) They have some cool stuff at good prices, they even had Angel pins... if you're interested, it's
www.orientaltrading.com
Donna

Donna,

Thank you so much for sharing yet another wonderful resource! And trust me, I am using each one you pass along!

Melissa

Melissa,

I started reading all about your baskets and all he ideas you were getting. I would like to do this for my hospital here in Minnesota. My son was also born at 25 weeks and is doing ok. I would like to know if I have your premission to use your ideas. I also would like to know how you got this funded. Please email me at patrick.murphy@mchsi.com

sylvia murphy mom of Carson 15 months old now

Sylvia,

Of course you are more than welcome to use the basket idea! I LOVE that you like it so well...and are going to use it to make a difference in someone else's life. How WONDERFUL that you are wanting to do this!

I contacted my local MOD chapter...I held a fundraiser at my children's birthday party...and this school year I am going to contact schools to see if we can raise money for this as a service project.

Also, Donna has come up with some great sites with cheap stuff you can buy in bulk. I would suggest checking that out!

Hugs,

Melissa

Melissa,

I know the baskets you've done will be so great for the families that receive them. Not only are the items helpful but just knowing someone else has been there and cares goes a really long way.

I don't know that this could go in a basket but something people might consider purchasing for their local NICU to have on hand is plaster molds. Our NICU gave us a mold of Jacob's feet and it is one of my most prized possessions. The Lord now holds Jacob in His arms but I still have this precious reminder of him that I can hold and caress to remember him. I think it's a kit that they got a company to donate. It's just precious.

Susan

Melissa,
Thank you for letting me use your idea. I am going to talk to a couple of teachers i know and see if i can get them to do some fund raisers.

One question where did you get the baskets.

Sylvia

Sylvia,

Thank YOU for using this idea!

Baskets really did not work out....so I should call them gift boxes. I bought white cardboard gift boxes...and cheap paper (I got several rolls for a dollar each....more somber for the grief baskets...more peppy for the welcome baskets). I used the paper to wrap the box lids...not the whole package....to where the lid could still fit on easily.

Good Luck! Please let me know about the progress of your baskets...and any of the great ideas you come up with along the way! I am eager to hear all about it!

Happy Gift Packing!

Melissa

Susan,

I love the ideas about the molds! How GREAT! I will definitely look into this!

Thanks so much!

Melissa

Dear SHARE,

It looks like we (our local MOD office) are getting a grant for our baskets. The hitch is...and there always is one...I live in a boarder town...on that is on the edge of Louisiana and Arkansas, but is IN Texas. This grant is a TX grant, meaning I can only buy materials/baskets for parents living in TX. We do not have an NICU in our town...instead, you have to go to Shreveport or Little Rock. Still, we can supply welcome/grief baskets to people in or around our town, who live in TX.

Thank you so much Linda and whomever else made this grant for these special baskets possible. It is just wonderful and I could not be more pleased! In fact, I am giddy about it!

Also, I will be raising funds again for another load of baskets that will travel to the NICU towns. Working...working...working....and I KNOW I'll come up with something! I have the help of some wonderful friends!

Hugs,

Melissa

Dear MOD Friends!

Because of you, I was able to put together 22 baskets and 10 folders for NICU parents....hopefully this will serve 32 families...and I am just getting started!

I want to embrace each of you with the warmest kind of thanks for all you have done to make my first load of NICU baskets possible. You have been a tremendous support and help. So many of you took to this idea immediately, and made it your own mission. Without you...I doubt I would have been even a fraction as successful with our first run!

The NICU staff was overwhelmed with the generosity of so many caring people. Each card gives credit where credit is due including:

SHARE FRIENDS! The momentum behind your suggestions and ideas to make the most helpful baskets possible.....helped me reach my personal deadline...and turn these baskets into something that I hope will refresh these parents as they carry their heavy emotional, physical, and financial load.

MOD offices. Linda and Kristina...you have been an immense help to me as well...and I really am touched by how excited and helpful you have been about this project. By donating beanies, educational materials, and journals...you helped me make these baskets supportive and informative for parents. Thank YOU!

I also included the MOD/SHARE websites, drawing special attention to what they will find when they log on! Hopefully, we will have made some new friends.

Hugs,

Melissa
 

Hi All,

I just wanted to update you on what I put into my baskets...and what the final product looked like.

My baskets ended up being white gift boxes. I purchased 2 different colored rolls of cheap gift wrap. One roll was more somber and one roll was more cheerful...depending on if the box was grief or welcome. Then I wrapped ONLY the lid with the paper...taping it securely...and then replacing the lid.

Scrapbookers...this one is for you. I purchased file folders with the rubber bands used to close it. You can find them at most stores. The ones I got were brown, green, and dark blue. These kinds of folders are made so that they can grow with the amount of documents placed inside it.

On the outside of the folder, I scrapped a cover...making it cheerful as to celebrate baby.

On the back, I purchases small square gift cards with small square envelopes. At the bottom going horizontally, I glued an envelope, a colored square of paper, and a card. Above each I glued a small colored rectangle, and wrote: Foot Print, First Picture/Ultrasound, and Hand Print. On the top, above where the rubber bands meet, I placed a larger colored square with another smaller rectangle above it saying: Place Crib Card Here.

Inside the envelopes, depending on if it is welcome or grief, I placed MOD educational information.

I placed a welcome or grief card in each box....with a handwritten note...and an explanation of my 4 children. This made it seem more personal... .and might help connect with the parents. At least, it might help them feel less alone.

I placed a colored snack bag in each box containing: gum, drink mix, popcorn...etc. Things parents might need to keep them going.

Toiletries: Travel toothpaste, toothbrush, unscented lotion, hand sanitizer, Kleenex, and soap.

Welcome baskets each got a camera, and a blank label for their name.

Grief baskets included a pack of sunflower seeds and an angel pin.

Journals, pens, and sticky note pads

MOD baby beanies

There are SO many things you could put into these baskets... so many of you have shared the awesome ideas you have used in making your own baskets. Please, I encourage you to post what YOU put into your baskets so that others can see how easy it is to make this project your own!

Again. Thank you so much! You all have made me smile with fierce SHARE pride!

Melissa

Melissa,

The baskets sound beautiful and well thought out! Way to go!! I'm sure every parent who will receive one will find it helpful, and touching.

You are an amazing woman with a special gift. I'm proud to say I know you.

HUGS to the Kiddos!!
Karri

Hi everyone,
I only have a minute b/c I'm at work and the kiddies are coming in....
I brought my gifts bags for the new PoP's at Alex's NICU this past weekend.... They were very well received!
I included a journal and pen, an angel charm that says "you have been blessed" (it's a Catholic Hospital ), some candy, and a flyer for SHARE (of course)!!!!
I hope to see some more PoP's from my area on the Share site soon!!!!
Have a great day
Donna