Eastside Baby Corner Winter 2014 Newsletter

the Corn r Winter 2014

Inside

Bundle up and read all about the warmth you and other EBC supporters are bringing to local kids

plus: How to be a Holiday Helper, and why donating your time makes a wonderful holiday gift

Giving kids what they need to thrive www.babycorner.org • Winter 2014 • 1

A letter from Executive Director, Renee Zimmerman On behalf of the Board, our Employees, and Volunteers…..THANK YOU for making a difference at our Helping Kids THRIVE annual luncheon held in November. Because of you, we raised more than $225,000 to help children in our community!

With your support, we can start every day at EBC with one goal in mind: keeping kids warm, fed and secure.

Volunteers brave the chill of the warehouse to sort shoes, socks, blankets and coats with the knowledge that EBC may be the only source of clothing to keep a child dry and warm. They know without enough blankets for the bed, kids will shiver and suffer all night when parents can’t afford the high cost of heating.

Other volunteers use their shopping savvy to find the best deals possible for diapers, baby food, infant formula, car seats, or Pack-n-Play cribs. They understand kids need these absolute essentials to be healthy and safe.

Being secure and nourished takes more: adequate school supplies, enough clothes to be clean between trips to the laundromat, or toys and books to keep young minds and imaginations alive. It means toothbrushes and toothpaste (thank you, Tooth Fairy!), strollers, high chairs, and beds for big kids.

You can probably guess from what I’ve written just how much “stuff” it takes to fill over 1,000 orders each

week! We’ve grown a lot in the last few years, helping more kids and providers than ever before.

To keep up that pace—and to help even more kids and providers—we are building strong partnerships in the community and across the country. The Board of Directors and professional leadership at EBC is committed to reaching all kids in need within our service region through intentional and thoughtful growth.

I would welcome an opportunity to show you EBC in action, and hear your thoughts about the needs in our community. Please contact me at reneez@ babycorner.org if you would like to visit the Hub. Regards,

Renee

PS. I think you’ll enjoy reading in this issue about some amazing people in our community who give of their time and talent so that kids will be fed, warm and secure!

EBC welcomes three new board members We are proud to announce the appointment of three new members to the Board of Directors: Rick Lessley, Carmen Malsbury, and Brian Daniels. Rick Lessley is a Sammamish resident and Vice President of the Supply Chain Group at Nintendo of America, Inc. He has served as an executive at Nintendo since 2001, and brings with him extensive specialized leadership training and education. Carmen Malsbury lives in Renton. She is a Senior Vice President at Heritage Bank Issaquah. Brian Daniels is a Snoqualmie resident and the Vice President of Operations and Surety Manager at MCM.

Giving EBC a home since 1990

It’s

Winter 4 4 5 6 7 9 10

In this Issue

It’s winter at EBC How to be a Holiday Helper A donor’s tale - Charlie’s hats Do you know the Big Bundle Giving the gift of time Homemade warmth A new partner - Toys for Kids

5

7

9

www.babycorner.org • Winter 2014 • 3 3

Winter at Eastside Baby Corner

Winter is a truly special time.

It begins with the excitement of the holiday season – a time when people come together to celebrate the good things in their life, and when they reach out to others who are not as fortunate. The holidays at EBC are especially eventful. Annually, many generous individuals and organizations host drives to collect items the children we serve need most; Most of those drives happen during the holiday season. It is amazing to see the community come together for the kids. As winter continues past the holidays, and life quiets, we are provided some time for reflection.

At EBC we reflect on how fortunate we are to have the amazing volunteers we have – contributing 2,300 hours each month to make sure we are able to help as many children as possible. We reflect on our donors. They keep the shelves (and our hearts) full.

We reflect on our provider partners. They are the ones on the front lines, working with families every day to make sure they meet the needs of the whole child.

Finally, we reflect on the children we serve. Growing up, and thriving in poverty or in a crisis situation takes amazing strength. These kids are why we are all here.

They are the reason EBC exists. As you make your way through winter, through the highs of the holidays and the stillness of late winter, we encourage you to keep these kids always on your mind. Working together we can help them thrive.

How to be a Holiday Helper Small ways you can make a BIG impact in the lives of local children this holiday season

You Matter

At EBC, the holiday season is a time for both celebration and deep reflection. We celebrate you, our amazing donors who gather holiday items so children can have not only the basic wintertime necessities such as warm coats and blankets, but also those extra special items that make the holidays extraordinary - like a new toy or a fancy dress.

We reflect because the holidays are a time when we see requests for our services rise. During these cold winter months, the true magnitude of those in need in our local community becomes more evident. In light of that, the message we hope to share with you this holiday season is your donations truly matter!

Host a Holiday Drive -

Items collected for EBC will be given directly, and immediately, to children who need them this winter.

Host a collection bin at your organization to collect high-need items such as diapers to keep newborn babies dry or coats and long pants to keep kids warm during the chilly season.

Create a fun and friendly competition to see who can collect the most items.

Host a Holiday Giving Tree where staff, members, customers, etc. can choose a high-needs item or a special holiday item to donate to one of our 500+ weekly clients.

Request donations in lieu of traditional holiday gifts at this year’s holiday event.

Contact Cori at communityhelpers@babycorner.org to plan your drive.

Volunteer your time

- as a group or individual

The time you spend volunteering at the EBC hub this holiday season will have a real impact on the children in our community.

Come together as an organization this holiday season by volunteering as a group. Gather your employees, members, clients and friends and help EBC fill some of the 1,000+ orders we receive each week.

To volunteer, visit www.babycorner.org/volunteer-time. Groups of four or more, email volunteer@babycorner.org.

Donate an end-of-year gift

- to help make 2015 our best year yet

The money you donate will be used to purchase the absolute essentials (such as food, formula, diapers, car seats, and portacribs) that we know children need, but in-kind donations cannot cover. No matter how large or small, your donations will help us meet our mission of helping kids thrive. Donate at www.babycorner.org/donate-money/or call Helen Banks Routon at 425-865-0234 ext. 701.

4 • www.babycorner.org • Winter 2014

Charlie’s Hats

Charlie and Jane Anderson are part of the OBC (Original Baby Corner).

They are founder Karen Ridlon’s longtime neighbors and friends, and are part of the team that helped Karen grow the organization from an ‘out of her house’ venture in 1990 into the 7,000 square feet operation that now helps more than 2,000 kids a month. To say EBC has changed over the nearly 25 years it has been in existence would be a colossal understatement. Charlie and Jane have watched the transition, rejoicing in the growth of such an essential organization while lamenting the need in their community that has made a bigger Eastside Baby Corner necessary. While Charlie and Jane have contributed to EBC throughout its existence, their role too has changed - partially because the growth has created different needs, and partially because of their own personal challenges.

The year Karen started EBC, Charlie, who was an engineer for Boeing, and Jane were temporarily living in California. Jane was (and is) an avid knitter. She wanted to help Karen’s fledgling organization, so she knit baby items and sent them back to Karen to give to local kids. A year later, when they were able to move back into their home near Karen, Charlie and Jane began to volunteer their time helping fill and distribute orders. Soon after, as Charlie’s retirement from Boeing approached, a need for a treasurer at EBC became apparent. Charlie, who has always found a way to give back to the community despite long working hours, stepped in. For nearly five years Charlie served as treasurer. Then in 2002 he suffered a stroke, the effects of which still challenge him today.

Charlie needed a few years to recover, but in 2005, looking for a way to again help EBC, Charlie joined his wife in contributing in the way she had in the

beginning, through knitting.

One of the effects of Charlie’s stroke is that he has trouble using one hand. Traditional knitting requires both hands, but Charlie learned how to knit on a round loom, which has made one-handed knitting possible.

These days, Charlie is quite the knitter. He completes a hat a day (when he and Jane are not traveling internationally), contributing nearly 200 hats to EBC each year. Jane has to do some of the finishing work on the hats, and the knitting scene at the Anderson home is quite entertaining. Jane is often working on her own knitting projects while Charlie knits in front of the TV. When he completes a hat, he sends it flying across the room into Jane’s ‘to be completed’ box. It doesn’t faze her.

Charlie enjoys the process of knitting the hats and says that contributing in any way he can is important, but there is so much more to this simple act. Because of Charlie’s hats, 200 little heads are protected from the cold winter air each year. Because of Charlie’s hats everyone at EBC is reminded of how incredibly lucky we are to have people on our team who care so much about kids, they will find a way to overcome any hardship that stands in the way of contributing.

Jane says Charlie’s ability to make and give hats to EBC has created a huge change in Charlie post stroke. “It’s like a light went on,” she shares. “He was able to realize that he still has value.” According to Jane, Charlie shows us that “just because someone has had a stroke, it doesn’t mean they can’t contribute.”

It is a true privilege to count Charlie and Jane as supporters and friends. Thank you Charlie and Jane for 25 years of dedication to Eastside Baby Corner.

www.babycorner.org • Winter 2014 • 5

Do you know the When provider partners order from the EBC website, they have access to 172 different items – basically any of the ‘stuff’ a child needs to grow up happy and healthy.

One of the most popular items ordered (about 200 every week) is the Big Bundle. The Big Bundle is a custombuilt bag containing a week’s worth of clothing (including underwear and socks), shoes, seasonally-appropriate outerwear and accessories, pajamas, toiletries, toys and books. They are lovingly created for a specific child by

Big Bundle?

dedicated volunteers who take the time to make sure the bundle will be a special gift the child will treasure. Last year 7,760 Big Bundles were given to children. This year EBC is already on track to give out 7,950 Bundles. This is made possible by dedicated volunteers who donate 2,300 hours each month to tasks like filling Bundles, and by the generosity of the local community. Nearly 90 percent of the items included in the Bundles comes from community donations.

Who receives the Big Bundle?

Four smiling faces proudly show off outfits from the Big Bundles they recently received from EBC. The children were connected to EBC through Family Connections Center where Human Services Specialist, Grace Kuan is helping them and their family get back on their feet. Grace recently shared the family’s story and explained that their mom loves the Big Bundle because the clothes not only save money, but also keep her kids warm and dressed like the other kids at school.

6 • www.babycorner.org • Winter 2014

Giving the gift of

For the Christian Family - Helen, Ed and daughter Lauren - volunteering at Eastside Baby Corner is a family activity. All three are at the Hub almost every Saturday morning. Helen is on the infant team and spends the morning making layettes for new babies, Ed helps with taking in donated goods and Lauren supervises the sorting of those goods. For the family, volunteering on Saturdays is a way to bond while giving back to their community.

Saturdays are generally the only day the family is able to participate as a unit, but their dedication to volunteerism - and to EBC - is deep, and you can often catch one or more of them at the Hub other days as well. Helen serves on the EBC Board of Directors and spends a good deal of time at the Hub working

Helen and Lauren Christian (second and third from left) join other EBC staff and volunteers at a recent event.

Time on growth and development projects, Lauren has completed several Girl Scout projects doing special tasks for EBC, and all three are present at almost every event EBC hosts or attends.

The time the family gives to EBC goes a long way in helping EBC meet its mission. EBC is committed to running a lean operation so that as many resources as possible can be given to the children we serve.

Volunteers, like Ed, Helen and Lauren, make this possible. The money saved by not paying someone to fill their roles, is money that can go toward buying diapers, formula, car seat and cribs for children who need them.

The Christian Family, while greatly appreciated, are not alone in their dedication to EBC. Volunteerism is, and has always been, at the core of what makes EBC great. When Karen Ridlon founded EBC in 1990 it was an all-volunteer team operating out of her home.

Despite tremendous growth, it remained all-volunteer until just six years ago when the first staff was hired to ensure a more sustainable future for EBC, allowing for growth and the ability to help even more kids.

The Christian family is part of a group we call core volunteers. Made up of more than 60 people, the core volunteers give their time to EBC regularly. They are responsible for specific areas of the EBC operation – essentially they are a volunteer staff.

Core volunteers do everything from serving as the

Continued on next page www.babycorner.org • Winter 2014 • 7

At far left: Core volunteers Tom Young, Lisa Kraetsch, Bob Nersveen and Lanni Litsjo. Left: Kids like Evelyn, granddaughter of core volunteers, Dick and Helen Scott enjoy giving their time as well. Below: The infant team prepares layettes for new babies.

Volunteers Continued: lead for various Hub departments, ordering inventory, picking up donated goods from remote locations, manning the intake area, sorting donations, repairing donated items and assisting the provider partners with pick up. We also have core volunteers who work remotely doing things like cleaning and repairing toys and shopping thrift stores and yard sales to help find high-need items.

Karen Ridlon herself is a core volunteer, putting in more than 40 hours every week as our provider partner liaison.

Clearly, we love our core volunteers, but we also rely heavily on another group of folks we call community volunteers. These are the men, women and children who come in when they have the

George Vanni is known for his sense of humor, as well as his dedication to helping kids.

time and help with things like sorting, counting drives, filling Big Bundles and all sorts of other special projects. Sometimes community volunteers come in as families, as individuals or as groups. Community volunteers collectively give about 750 hours each month. This year alone they will give nearly 10,000 hours!

Our great fortune in having the dedicated volunteers we do is not lost on anyone at EBC. Our work, which they make possible, is having a true impact on the lives of children in King County.

Helen Christian recently wrote, “Kids arrive in our world, planned or unexpected, having a right to be loved, treasured and cherished regardless of their social/economic status.” Her words embody the EBC mission; they give a clear perspective on why EBC

8 • www.babycorner.org • Winter 2014

volunteers commit at the level they do. They are all here to help kids, and with a reach of more than 500 kids a week, that’s exactly what they are doing.

Thank you volunteers, your gift

“Kids arrive in our world, planned or unexpected, having a right to be loved, treasured and cherished regardless of their social/economic status.”

of time means more than you will ever know.

Join this fantastic group of people working to change the lives of children in our community. Visit us online at www.babycorner.org/ volunteer-time to find out how you can get involved.

Homemade Warmth

In 1990 when Karen Ridlon began Eastside Baby Corner it was truly a grass roots operation. They filled orders out of Karen’s home, there was no staff, sponsors and donors were not easy to come by and filling every order was not always possible. Karen and the early Eastside Baby Corner volunteers worked tirelessly to grow the organization, and it is to them we owe our gratitude for nurturing it into the organization it is today.

During the early years, many of the items given to children were handmade by EBC volunteers and

friends. Despite having wonderful corporate supporters now who supply us with larger quantities of new goods, volunteers making items for EBC to give kids is a tradition that continues today.

The majority of blankets, hats, and mittens we give out are still lovingly made by EBC supporters.

The winter is perhaps the time we appreciate donors of handmade goods the most. With the weather turning colder, families are looking for help to keep their kids warm. It brings Little sweaters made by Eastside Crafters make great a lot of joy to be able to additions to the layettes EBC gives to new babies not only give these warm items, but to be able to give hadmade items - made just for these kids by a community of people who care so deeply. These are a few of our regular crafters: Eastside Crafters -This talented group gives EBC adorable

Homemade gifts ln addition to the homemade warmth items EBC is able to give kids, other supporters make

The blankets EBC gives to local children are handmade by supporters.

sweater, hat and booties sets - as well as other items.

Issaquah Quilters - As their name implies, Issaquah Quilters create and donate beautiful blankets.

Stitches from the Heart - Stitches from the Heart makes numerous items including hats, scarfs, booties, sweaters and blankets.

Project Linus - These talent folks give EBC hundreds of blankets each year.

RSVP Group - Another talented group that crafts scarfs, hats, mittens and blankets.

Mary Carr - Mary has donated hundreds of items including hats, mittens, bibs and quilts.

This list is certainly not inclusive, there are many other who take the time to make items for the kids we serve, and we are grateful to them as well. Thank you all!

Mary Carr knits hats for EBC. This fall she donated 40 pairs of mittens, 105 hats, and 44 bibs.

homemade gifts for creative stitching, swoons. We can us to include in the only imagine how the children feel.

Big Bundle as well.

Thank you Newcastle Seniors Some of our favorites Group and Centurylink Bellevue are the adorable Cascadian Club. handmade animal friends. Recently we received two donations of friends, cats from the Newcastle Seniors Group and bears from CenturyLink Bellevue Cascadian Club.

Everyone who sees these sweet cuddlers, made of fun fabrics and www.babycorner.org • Winter 2014 • 9

Ensuring a dry drop-off site

Rowley Properties and friends provide EBC a safe place to collect donations Last spring Rowley Properties completed a project to reinforce the awning that covers the area of the Hub where donations are collected.

The modifications made will ensure the longevity of the structure, allowing our volunteers and donors to continue enjoying a dry drop-off site.

A volunteer team that included architect, Mike O’Brien; Robb Dibble and Brian Loshbough from Dibble Engineers; Steve Lilliberg of Selkirk Electric and Bob Will from Hodge Construction completed the project.

We extend a sincere THANK YOU to this amazing team, and to Rowley Properties, our dedicated partners of almost 25 years.

From left to right: Brian Loshbough, Robb Dibble, Bob Snyder (from Rowley Properties), Mike O’Brien, Steve Lilleberg and Renee Zimmerman

Toys for Kids selects EBC as community partner

Eastside Baby Corner is happy to announce a new partnership with Rick Rizzs & Dave Henderson’s Toys for Kids! Toys for Kids, a nonprofit organization that provides toy and cash contributions to families in need in greater Seattle and Western Washington, has pledged to give EBC $5,000 in new toys this year.

The first week in December, EBC representatives will join Toys for Kids at Toys ‘R Us for a morning of shopping where we will be able to personally select the toys we want our children to receive.

These toys will contribute to the EBC birthday program through which our provider partners are able to order birthday packs for the children they serve. Birthday packs include several new toys, books, stuffed animals and any party supplies we have on hand.

EBC distributes nearly 10,000 toys to children each year through the birthday program and in The Big

10 • www.babycorner.org • Winter 2014

Bundles. Being able to provide children with new toys for their birthday is especially rewarding. We are grateful to Rick and everyone at Toys for Kids for making it possible.

EBC Executive Director, Renee Zimmerman with Rick Rizzs and former Seattle Mariner, Bill Krueger, at a recent event. Rick’s philanthropic organization,Toys for Kids, pledged $5,000 in new toys to EBC this year.

Save the Date Annual Winter Open Houses Thursday, December 11th & Thursday, December 18th 9:00AM to 12:00PM During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, a visit to the EBC Hub can remind us of what this season of giving is truly about. Witness the hope EBC donors and volunteers are giving to local families as they work to bring them a happy, worry-free holiday season with their basic needs met.

Join us on Thursday, December 11th and Thursday, December 18th from 9AM to 12PM for cider, cookies and a holiday season experience that will truly warm your heart.

Reindeer Festival serves as collection site for EBC throughout holidays Enjoy building family memories while helping local kids this winter December 1st - 23rd the Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah invites you to: Visit the ‘Greatest Annual Holiday Festival in the Northwest’ at Santa’s permanent reindeer farm. Kids, age 12 and under, are invited to meet Santa, his elves and his very own Reindeer. They can sit in Santa’s Grand Traveling Sleigh while enjoying music, a warm beverage and all the other

seasonal activities.

Throughout the Reindeer Festival, Cougar Mountain Zoo will be collecting toys for EBC to give to local children. Take advantage of the opportunity to help a local child in need while giving the children in your life holiday memories to last a lifetime.

We love to share the EBC story with other organizations. If you would like a representative from EBC to speak at your event, contact Helen Banks Routon at helenr@babycorner.org www.babycorner.org • Winter 2014 • 11

P.O. Box 712 Issaquah, WA 98027

Join Us

Contact Us

The Hub 1510 NW Maple Street Issaquah, WA 98027 (425) 865-0234 ebc@babycorner.org

Annual Winter Open Houses Thursday, December 11th & Thursday, December 18th 9:00AM to 12:00PM

Drop-off Hours The Hub 1510 NW Maple Street Issaquah, WA 98027 Monday 5:30PM to 8:30PM Thursday 9:00AM to 11:00AM Saturday 9:00AM to 12:00PM

Issaquah Highlands Self Storage 910 NE High St. Issaquah, WA 98029 (425)295-2959 Monday - Sunday 9:30AM to 6:00PM

Marymoor Self Storage in Redmond 6065 E Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE Redmond, WA 98052 (425) 882-1111 Monday - Saturday 9:30AM to 6:00PM Sunday 9:30am to 5:00pm

Stay Connected

Visit us online at www.babycorner.org.

Keep up to date with Eastside Baby Corner news and events by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter and Pinterest, or subscribing to our blog. Sign up for our social media tools, as well as our monthly E-News online.

Our Mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families in need by collecting and purchasing children’s items and distributing them, free of charge, through agencies who are providing services for families in east King County. At EBC we give families help and hope.