Full Circle Associates

I am the community host for the March of Dimes "Share Your Story" online community for parents of babies who have had to spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). It has been amazing to see this online community mobilize to create NICU care kits for the Gulf region.

Now the March of Dimes has announced their organizational response. March of Dimes and the Tiniest Victims

In response to the devasting hurricane in the Gulf Coast, the March of Dimes is marshalling our nationwide network of chapters and volunteers to meet the immediate and ongoing needs of pregnant women and babies imperiled by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, especially sick and extremely fragile premature babies...

Pregnant women and infants are in desperate need of lifesaving help and support in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The March of Dimes is committed to raising $5 million to meet the immediate and sustained needs of these mothers and babies. You can help by making a donation to the March of Dimes Hurricane Assistance Fund that can be used in the areas of greatest need. Donations can be made to the March of Dimes by visiting its Web site at marchofdimes.com. Through the Web site, you may also donate directly to the Louisiana or Mississippi chapter or any chapter you choose.

If you haven't made a donation for Katrina relief yet, consider the March of Dimes.

If you want more information, see these pages:
What will be needed

* an expected rise in the number of babies born prematurely, who will require specialized NICUs, equipment and care;
* a potentially large increase in the number of births in towns and cities such as Baton Rouge and Jackson, Mississippi that are housing evacuees, putting strain on existing facilities and services;
* organizing and deploying more outreach workers and trained health professionals to provide prenatal care and counseling for displaced pregnant women;
* updated information for pregnant women and families on available services as situations change;
* multivitamins with folic acid for women of childbearing age and pregnant women to reduce the risk of birth defects;
* purchasing infant and child vaccinations for shelters and clinics.

More details...


shareyourstory, marchofdimes, katrina, hurricanekatrina