How to Help A Women's Concern - our mission outreach for 2010-2011

As you have read on the blog and in your brochure, we are collecting a $10 membership fee where half goes directly to Sheila Cole, the Parent Education Manager at A Women's Concern.  She holds a Tuesday night support groups for ladies who are expecting or have chosen life for their babies and/or have arrived into this world.  As a mom's group, we can help these moms get a great start on their journey of parenthood.  Not only does $5 of your membership fee go to this group, but you can help in other ways listed below:

• Change Jars - our centerpieces for our tables this year are glass jars.  We are encouraging you to fill these up with your spare change.  All the proceeds will go towards the AWC Parenting Group.
• Gift Cards - While donations come in of clothing and accessories for newborns, the clinic still has clients that have babies that are older.  From the AWC newsletter:  "Having gift cards at the clinic allows us to meet one's needs immediately, shop for items that are not stored in our Mommy Boutique, and helps us purchase items to put meals together for families that are coming home form the hospital.  Please consider purchasing a gift card or two from Wal-Mart, Target, Giant, or Wegmans."  
• Diapers - Many of the diapers that are donated are size newborn, 1, and 2.  But the larger sizes always go first!  Consider purchasing diapers in sizes 3, 4, 5, 6, and even training pants.  Wipes and creams are needed also.
• Clothing - New or like new clothing and shoes for boys and girls up to size 2T are always accepted.  Maternity wear is great too!
• Toys & other items - Toys to help moms with Christmas gifts, Good Start formula (WIC uses this brand so the other brands donated usually don't get used), bibs, pacifiers, bath items.  (No bottles please, they have an overflow and little room to store them).
• Large gift bags and tissue - Plain or baby theme bags and tissue help the staff at AWC prepare a gift for an new mom.  
• Meals - A sign up sheet will be passed around at the next meetings for you to sign up if you are interested in providing a meal to the Parenting Class on Tuesday nights.  It would require a full meal for eight women and delivering it to State College by 6 PM or earlier (a refrigerator and oven are on site).  
• Other items on the A Women's Concern needs list - 
• Women's hygiene products, lotions, shampoo/conditioner
• Family size crock pot
• cases of water
• disposable helium tanks
• sugar packets, all kinds
• Keuring K-Cups
• Books and rolls of stamps
• Paper towels
• Pack of "Welcoming Home Baby" cards
• Pack of "Thinking of you" cards
• Pack of "Sympathy" cards
• toilet paper
• gently used pots and pans
• 2 cookie sheets
• dish detergent

All of these items can be brought to any MOPS & Beyond meeting and we will deliver them to the clinic.  I encourage you to start a open a plastic bag and place some items you have extra off at home in it, add some of the above items to your grocery list, or even get change ready for the jars on the table - these small acts of kindness can help change a person's life.  

For more information, contact Shelia Cole at A Women's Concern at 234-7341.