DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. are teaming up to do something special to help new mothers.
It’s a new “Mother’s Closet” stocked with everything from diapers and wipes to car seats.
“I think this is a beautiful resource for moms who may lack the support system and finances to be able to provide for their babies,” said Neshawnda Walker.
She knows how expensive it is to take care of a newborn because she delivered her daughter, Olivia, last April at this very hospital. The new Mother’s Closet didn’t exist then.
“Yeah, this would have been a great help, wow,” Walker said.
Doctors recognize the need for a resource like this closet.
“We have patients that are a lot of times in need of things that are daily necessities for their children,” said OBGYN Dr. Tara Lindsey.
Members of the Alpha Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated do too. Chapter president Ra’Shanda Glen said the closet is in memory of one of their members and long-time OBGYN at DMC Sinai Grace Hospital, Dr. Sophie Womack. The NICU is also named after her.
“If we can help lift that burden, it would be wonderful,” said Glen. “It all adds up; diapers, wipes, car seats, all of it.”
The local women are doing everything they can to ensure the new Mother’s Closet shelves stay full.
“Our chapter has already started planning baby showers,” Glen said. “We will start collecting donations throughout the community, and we will come on a monthly basis.”
The hope is that new moms who need help can get it before they leave those hospital doors.
“It means not only the hospital cares, but the community cares,” Lindsey said.
“I’ll be bringing donations up here as well because everybody needs help at some point,” said Walker.