Voices for the Baby Day Project

Donate a Diaper. Change a Life.

Hello!

Once again, I’m working on a project to help ‘save the world‘ — Yup.. I’m being all earnest and do-goody!

This time I’m creating a video campaign for West Side Baby a non-profit that distributes much-needed diapers to struggling families. I may have already shared this with you, but last year I ended up volunteering at Northwest Harvest’s ”Baby Day” — which is the single day of the week where diapers and formula are offered. Diapers are in short supply, and I had to give mom after mom packs of seven (7) diapers for the entire week. More than one mom cried. It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do as a volunteer. So… I said before my big birthday, I was going to raise funds for Baby Day.

I know… I’m not a mom… But, luckily, I’m an aunt many times over. It’s partly my adoration for my friends and family who have little ones that made me even more empathetic to the diaper drought. I couldn’t imagine them having to recycle or re-use a diaper. I couldn’t imagine any of our little friends sitting in a dirty diaper all day. I can’t imagine the frustration of knowing cloth diapers aren’t an option because of laundry mat and daycare restrictions. In researching, I’ve found that lack of diapers raises hospital visits (staff infection) and child abuse (wet diaper = crying baby = increase of abuse.) It’s a problem.

Soo.. the campaign my team and I have created will position Mother’s Day as an opportunity to show gratitude by helping other moms. It is a call to action, encouraging mothers to support one another on Mother’s Day by donating diapers and money to West Side Baby. The video component asks: “Who helped you as a mom?“

That’s where YOU come in! As a wonderful mom, your voice can help to create the video. It would be so wonderful if you could take 2 minutes to call my Google Voice number {646.867.0970} and leave a message about someone who inspires/ encourages you, or just plain old helped with your mothering. Man or woman, it doesn’t matter. I’ll edit your voicemail into the video montage, using your personal voice and story. Your name will be removed for privacy, but I will include their relationship to you. If you feel comfortable, I’d LOVE to use a picture you & your little one (maybe a grown-up now?), or a photo of the person who contributes to your success as a mom.

The video will run locally in Seattle, we hope to distribute it via local mommy blogs, and will also reside on West Side Baby’s website.

I think that about covers the situation. If you could call tomorrow, that would be even MORE amazing! I’m re-tooling my presentation and hope to have a copy to show WSB by Thursday.

The voicemail only takes 2 minutes (thats all the recording time!). All you’d need to say is:

your name (ie. Jessica Roberts)

the name of the person and their relationship to you (ie. Susan Roberts, my mom.)

and, if you’d like, how they helped/inspired etc… (ie. taught me patience)

You can just email me any photos directly at jr2195@gmail.com

Of course – THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

If you are so inclined, please send this to any of your other friends. Our goal is to raise $25,000 this Mother’s Day, and hopefully the campaign will go nationally, raising even more money for needy kids. ”Donate a Diaper. Change a Life.” I told you — earnest and do-goody!