A haul of baby care essentials were collected by the district office of state Rep. Tom Morrison, R-Palatine, earlier this month as part of his annual “Holiday Baby Closet Drive.”
The donations were to benefit Hopeful Beginnings, a nonprofit organization that provides counseling and adoption services. Executive Director Natalie Rodriguez confirmed that 451 baby bottles, 256 packages of wipes, 49 containers of formula, 66 sipping cups, 204 outfits, 4 baby blankets, 259 pacifiers, 93 bottles of body wash, 39 bottles of baby lotion, 40 bibs, 95 tubes of diaper cream and 3,326 diapers were donated to the organization through the drive.
The donations were collected at Morrison’s 54th District office through Dec. 3.
“I’m grateful to partner with Hopeful Beginnings to host my annual Baby Closet Drive,” Morrison said in a news release announcing the drive. “It’s crucial that we support families and their newborns in our community. We can all join together to ensure that they have the resources they need this holiday season.”
Rodriguez noted the kindness of community members in their efforts to give back to children and mothers in need.
“It’s been so important to get students and members of the local community involved in the work that Hopeful Beginnings does through supporting other local families during the holiday season and throughout the year,” she said.
Rodriguez said there will be another drive in the spring to restock on baby supplies. She explained that over 100 local families pick up supplies each month from the organization, including ones who live in Wheeling and Elk Grove townships.
Hopeful Beginnings also offers case management programs to families in need, where they can be connected to local resources for baby supplies, she explained.
Joseph Arnone is a freelancer.
