Meet a CIUW Community Partner: A Baby Center

At the Cape and Islands United Way, we believe that every child deserves a strong start in life. That’s why we are proud to support A Baby Center, a vital community resource providing essential supplies and support to local families in need. In a recent interview, we chatted with Robin Hayward, Program Director of A Baby Center, to learn more about their mission, the impact they’re making, and how our partnership is helping to ensure that every baby on Cape Cod has a healthier, happier beginning.

What’s the mission of your organization?

We serve the youngest in our community, ensuring their good health and safety – without judgment, without regard for religious preference or lack thereof – and at no cost to clients. Thanks to partnerships and generosity, we lessen the financial stress on each family while enhancing parenting resources.

What CIUW pillar does your work fall under? Can you expand on the community need that your organization is addressing?

The Pillars that best exemplify what A Baby Center offers to low-income families/parents with infants and toddlers is Promoting Health and Encouraging Economic Stability.

A Baby Center (ABC) promotes health by providing formula and baby food, as well as diapers and wipes that are a necessity. Some formulas can cost $75 or more per week and by supplementing that formula once per month our families can use those funds to provide other needed goods or support for their families.

By providing a family with 75 diapers per child each month we are helping a family work or go to school and a baby to go to daycare where diapers are mandatory. By supplying a family with infant clothing again we are putting funds back into the family's budget and keeping the baby clothed, warm, and protected from the elements.

Additionally, we provide car seats one of the most expensive items that is mandatory before you can take a baby home safely from the hospital. A Baby Center cares for our clients and their menstruating children by providing free period supplies once every 30 days. This means that period supplies are covered 12 months out of the year.

ABC also provides layette kits, postpartum kits, potty training kits, small toys, books, and infant appliances, all as donated items or donated funds are acquired. Our goal is to provide tangible goods that promote health and well-being and defer much-needed funds back into the low-income clients' budgets to care for their families. The estimated value of a monthly bag of goods is $363. Over a 12-month period, we can save a low-income family $4,356 in tangible goods.

How has support from CIUW impacted your programs and/or constituents?

We rely on the support from CIUW as they have made it possible for us to start new initiatives that promote health, build strong financial foundations for our low-income parents, and strengthen our diaper bank program. With support from CIUW, we can offer our low-income clients comfort and security during difficult times. We can also ensure that basic infant needs and maternal needs are supplemented.

Can you share a recent story of impact?

On a bitterly cold December morning, a young mom arrived for her appointment dressed in only a t-shirt, flip-flops, and a light sweatshirt. Her baby was bundled warmly, but she herself was clearly struggling. Overwhelmed with gratitude as she received items from our volunteers, she began to cry, admitting to our staff that she couldn't make ends meet without our help. She mentioned the connection she had with our staff and looked forward to coming each month where she was understood and cared for. When we learned she didn't have a coat, our team quickly connected with our partners and found one for her. That day, she left with diapers, wipes, formula, clothing, blankets for her baby, a car seat, period supplies, baby food, a toy, a book, and even a Pack 'n Play. This scene repeats itself weekly at ABC, and we're incredibly grateful for CIUW's support in making this vital aid possible.

Donate to CIUW