Gift a Holiday Miracle to Families in Need

Each year, various departments, teams, and individuals across the University of Rochester and Strong Memorial Hospital generously support the many young families enrolled in the Baby Love and Building Healthy Children programs coordinated through our Social Work and Patient and Family Services Division. We invite you to join us in contributing to this meaningful cause this holiday season by donating gift cards from easily accessible retailers such as Walmart, Wegmans, Target, Price Rite, Tops, Amazon or local dollar stores.

Together, these two programs include 142 families that represent more than 159 babies, infants, toddlers, and children from our local community. Most women in Baby Love are head of household and employed in various essential service industries. They work hard to balance demanding work hours while providing care for their young and school-age children, but gaps in resources persist. Women in Building Healthy Children are under 21 and are offered assistance with transportation, housing, employment, education, and more, in order to improve their home-based support as they navigate parenthood.

"With your gifts this holiday season, these hardworking, yet under-resourced parents, will be able to shop for toys, activities, books and other meaningful gifts on their own, while still affording household essentials, such as diapers, cleaning supplies, and groceries for wholesome family meals during the holidays," says Sandy Arbasak, director of Friends of Strong, the hospital's volunteer organization which has helped coordinate the annual gift-giving drive since it began more than 25 years ago.

                      

All gift card donations will need to be received by Friday, Dec. 6 in order to give our case workers time to gather, arrange and equitably distribute these gifts.

For URMC Staff: Please deliver—unwrapped—to the Friends of Strong Office (Room 1-1230) Monday–Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For the Public: Please mail your contribution to Friends of Strong, c/o Susan Sullivan, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 660, Rochester, NY, 14642.

 

Questions?

If you would like to help support these families this holiday season or have any questions about how you can help, please call 585-275-2420 or email Susan Sullivan so that we can plan accordingly and keep you informed of any updates as the holidays draw near.

More about Building Healthy Children

The Building Healthy Children (BHC) program provides home-based support services for young women who were 21 or younger when their first child was born OR who are in their second or third trimester of pregnancy. Families have no more than three children, with the oldest child being under age 5. A pair of family support providers help with transportation, obtaining safe housing, and obtaining employment and educational goals. Providers also offer information on parenting and child development, parent-child relationships and counseling services. Families can be involved in BHC until their child turns 3 years old.

More about Baby Love

The Baby Love program operates under the Social Work Department of Strong Memorial Hospital and serves low-income pregnant women and their families to promote positive birth outcomes. Services are provided primarily by a Community Health Worker and address barriers in accessing health care, benefits, securing essential goods, linkage to community resources, supportive counseling, and education through the Partners for a Healthy Baby Curriculum, to promote healthy behaviors and positive mother infant attachment.

Emily A. Teitsworth | 11/4/2024