‘Busy Fingers’ group helping with ‘Welcome Home Baby Baskets’ project

By Dani Baldasarre
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Caring and providing for a newborn is no easy task. But thanks to the people at Brooksby, it just got a little easier.

Every newborn needs hats, socks, blankets, sweaters, and more. That’s why people who live and work at Brooksby knitted baby clothes, blankets, and donated essential items like diapers and wipes to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC). It’s part of the “Welcome Home Baby Basket” project, which benefits families.

MSPCC is a private, nonprofit child welfare organization with a long-standing commitment to the children of Massachusetts. Since 1878, MSPCC has served as a leading advocate for children and families, pioneering and providing programs that prevent child abuse, treat victims of abuse, and strengthen families.

300 different items donated
This special project assembles baskets, fills them with baby items, and gives them to new mothers to help them with their transition home from the hospital.

“A number of people who live here get together once a month to knit and touch base on what else needs to be made for the MSPCC ’s ‘Welcome Home Baby Baskets’” says Tom Cook, Brooksby’s volunteer program coordinator. “Virginia Rando, who lives at Brooksby, leads the ‘Busy Fingers’ group and has a lot to do with getting people to knit for the MSPCC . We also asked people who live and work at Brooksby to help with donations of new baby items such as diapers, baby wipes, baby lotions, shampoo, and letters of encouragement,” says Tom.

‘A wonderful relationship’
The “Welcome Home Baby Basket” project supports Healthy Families, a statewide home visiting program available to first time parents age 20 and under, funded by the Children’s Trust Fund. “We have a wonderful relationship with the MSPCC ,” says Tom. “We look forward to working with them for years to come.”