Today was the 1st of two March for Babies walks on the Eastern Shore. Over 300 people walked for a 5 mile tour of Salisbury through beautiful neighborhoods and through the zoo. Many families walked with their prior premature infants, several of which I cared for in the NICU.
I arrived at 0800 to help set up the tents for the 10 o'clock walk. I was also on the NICU angels walk team. This blog will address some questions about my experience with the March of Dimes.
The people I came into contact with today begin with all the volunteers, including two local universities and their students, the local television and radio stations, the health department and the facility where I work in the NICU. All these people are dedicated to the mission of the March of Dimes, to eradicate prematurity and prevent birth defects. It is overwhelming to see the local community support for such a worthy cause. Next, is my fellow NICU co-workers. There are 18 of us in the NICU and today 10 walked and the other 8 are walking the May 7th march. This is 100% participation and dedication. A truly inspiring group of angels. Finally, the families. I was thrilled to see 10-15 families walking with their babies in strollers and in carriers for the cause. The families were thrilled to see their child's t-shirts on display and were grateful that we came out to support them and their families. Many tears were shed and thanks to the March of Dimes, research can continue to help families who have infants with birth defects or who were born premature.
While the families that came are not direct beneficiaries of today's fundraising efforts, past walks helped them in other ways during their struggle in the NICU. These families would like to give back, so they raised money by walking to meet the needs of the next cohort of preemies on the Eastern Shore. Also, money goes to local community efforts to support those children with birth defects to obtain surgeries or therapy.
Obviously, March of Dimes is nationwide, but our chapter fulfills the needs of this community with many fundraising efforts, plus support of local businesses and other activities.
The best thing that happened this semester is to see the families during the walk and their appreciation of all that we do. Many times, during the actual hospitalization, families are unable to say how much our care means because they are overwhelmed. Celebrating their children through this walk and seeing us NICU nurses out in the community helping on their behalf was very powerful to them and they stated how much they appreciated all we do.
I have learned that I can touch one life in a profound way and that those actions can be multiplied as those individuals pass it on to the next person. Today, showed just how much we can make a difference by seeing community support and action.
I will continue to do my Service Learning with the March of Dimes. The next walk is May 7th and I will be there at 0700 to help set up and to man the tents. I walked today, but may be doing other duties on the 7th. There are many events coming up to volunteer with, including the Signature Chefs Auction and the Bikers for Babies events. I love this organization and will continue with volunteering as long as I am able.
Peninsula Regional Medical Center 2012 Team Walk T-shirt
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
March for Babies Kick-off
Our kick-off events around the Eastern Shore have been a success. At the 1st event, over 120 people were in attendance and awards were distributed for last years fundraising events. The t-shirts were displayed and they were a hit.
We had another kick-off at my facility for team captains and over 40 people attended. The t-shirts were a big hit at this event, too. As a matter of fact, team captains wanted to take them to their areas for incentives. So next year, we are going to make more!!
The picture enclosed is from the kick-off event in Federalsburg. Now, I am gearing up for the walk event on April 17th. We have established team captains in the NICU, Pediatric, L&D and Mother/Baby areas and active fundraising is in progress with candy bars, purchase of blocks dedicated in a child's name and March for Babies donations for the walkers.
Fun times for a great cause!
Angie
We had another kick-off at my facility for team captains and over 40 people attended. The t-shirts were a big hit at this event, too. As a matter of fact, team captains wanted to take them to their areas for incentives. So next year, we are going to make more!!
The picture enclosed is from the kick-off event in Federalsburg. Now, I am gearing up for the walk event on April 17th. We have established team captains in the NICU, Pediatric, L&D and Mother/Baby areas and active fundraising is in progress with candy bars, purchase of blocks dedicated in a child's name and March for Babies donations for the walkers.
Fun times for a great cause!
Angie
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Mid-Term Service Learning Posting
My service learning site is the Eastern Shore of Maryland Chapter of the March of Dimes. It is located in Salisbury, Maryland just down the street from where I practice professionally in the NICU.
Historically, the March of Dimes began as Franklin Delano Roosevelt's project to fight polio. Later, the mission's focus changed to fighting prematurity and birth defects. The March of Dimes current mission statement is "we help moms have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies" (March of Dimes, 2011).
The clients are premature infants and infants with birth defects and their families. The March of Dimes provides funds, advocacy and health/wellness programs, such as their folic acid campaign. They also advocate for access to health coverage and were central in the reauthorization of the Childen's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) on a federal level (March of Dimes, 2011).
The agency obtains funding through private donations, fundraising efforts and sponsorships from many organizations. Our facility is a huge sponsor for our area chapter. The Signature Chef's Auction, Bikers for Babies and March for Babies all raise funds via their sponsors and events.
I am called to work for this organization because I see the affects on families and friends each and every day that I am practicing my profession in the NICU. The families and friends struggle to understand why their baby was born early or with a profound birth defect. Many birth defects can be prevented, such as neural tube defects, with simple health and wellness initiatives that many are unable to obtain for a variety of reasons. Socioeconomic, immigration and insurance status plays a significant role in access to care. On a state and federal level the March of Dimes advocates for smoking cessation, alcohol and substance abuse prevention, immunizations, preconception care, prenatal care, supplemental food programs, folic acid use, and environmental/hazard protection (March of Dimes, 2011).
My passion is in advocacy, prevention and research for this wonderful organization. I would like to see preventable birth defects from ever happening and a significant reduction in prematurity. As of this moment, our nation scores a "D" in premature birth rates. That is completely unacceptable in the world's most powerful country.
Currently, I am a supporter, volunteer and professional for this organization. I have been active with the March of Dimes since 1999. I have been a guest speaker twice for the annual "Lighting" event to spotlight prematurity and its impact on the families in our community. I have raised funds and have organized walkathon teams. Currently, I am involved in the kick-off celebrations for the two local March for Babies walks. I have spent over 10 hours making 24 t-shirts with puff paint that are individualized with the baby's name and birthweight, plus a unique design to be displayed at the two kick-off events and the two walks. It has spurred on the family members to join our walk, so I have recruited teams as a by-product of the t-shirt making. All of the babies have been NICU graduates at my facility. I will be helping at both the kick-off events and both the walks. In the next 3 months, I will log about 40 hours of service time to this organization. I am committed to the March of Dimes for as long as I am able to contribute. Along with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, it is my service passion of choice. Efforts on behalf of this organization are seen at the local, state, national and global level. I am proud to be able to contribute!
Angie Houck
Reference:
March of Dimes. (2011). Retrieved from, http://www.marchofdimes.com/
Historically, the March of Dimes began as Franklin Delano Roosevelt's project to fight polio. Later, the mission's focus changed to fighting prematurity and birth defects. The March of Dimes current mission statement is "we help moms have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies" (March of Dimes, 2011).
The clients are premature infants and infants with birth defects and their families. The March of Dimes provides funds, advocacy and health/wellness programs, such as their folic acid campaign. They also advocate for access to health coverage and were central in the reauthorization of the Childen's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) on a federal level (March of Dimes, 2011).
The agency obtains funding through private donations, fundraising efforts and sponsorships from many organizations. Our facility is a huge sponsor for our area chapter. The Signature Chef's Auction, Bikers for Babies and March for Babies all raise funds via their sponsors and events.
I am called to work for this organization because I see the affects on families and friends each and every day that I am practicing my profession in the NICU. The families and friends struggle to understand why their baby was born early or with a profound birth defect. Many birth defects can be prevented, such as neural tube defects, with simple health and wellness initiatives that many are unable to obtain for a variety of reasons. Socioeconomic, immigration and insurance status plays a significant role in access to care. On a state and federal level the March of Dimes advocates for smoking cessation, alcohol and substance abuse prevention, immunizations, preconception care, prenatal care, supplemental food programs, folic acid use, and environmental/hazard protection (March of Dimes, 2011).
My passion is in advocacy, prevention and research for this wonderful organization. I would like to see preventable birth defects from ever happening and a significant reduction in prematurity. As of this moment, our nation scores a "D" in premature birth rates. That is completely unacceptable in the world's most powerful country.
Currently, I am a supporter, volunteer and professional for this organization. I have been active with the March of Dimes since 1999. I have been a guest speaker twice for the annual "Lighting" event to spotlight prematurity and its impact on the families in our community. I have raised funds and have organized walkathon teams. Currently, I am involved in the kick-off celebrations for the two local March for Babies walks. I have spent over 10 hours making 24 t-shirts with puff paint that are individualized with the baby's name and birthweight, plus a unique design to be displayed at the two kick-off events and the two walks. It has spurred on the family members to join our walk, so I have recruited teams as a by-product of the t-shirt making. All of the babies have been NICU graduates at my facility. I will be helping at both the kick-off events and both the walks. In the next 3 months, I will log about 40 hours of service time to this organization. I am committed to the March of Dimes for as long as I am able to contribute. Along with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, it is my service passion of choice. Efforts on behalf of this organization are seen at the local, state, national and global level. I am proud to be able to contribute!
Angie Houck
Reference:
March of Dimes. (2011). Retrieved from, http://www.marchofdimes.com/
Monday, February 21, 2011
18 and counting...
In gearing up for the March of Dimes kick-off for the March for Babies, I have made 18 t-shirts for display at the Moose Lodge on March 2nd. The kick-off will showcase these t-shirts with names and birthweights of our local preemies that were born at our facility. Peninsula Regional Medical Center is an avid supporter of the March of Dimes mission, and as an employee of the Medical Center and a supporter of the March of Dimes, it has been an honor to make these shirts on our babies' behalf.
The parents of the babies have given their consent to have their first name and birthweight displayed at the two local kick-off events and the two March for Babies walks. The shirts are individualized with cute designs and celebrate their birth. Our NICU families are all excited about this endeavor and several have committed to walking in the April 17 or May 7 events!
I still have 6 shirts not decorated, so there is still more work to do!
Angie
The parents of the babies have given their consent to have their first name and birthweight displayed at the two local kick-off events and the two March for Babies walks. The shirts are individualized with cute designs and celebrate their birth. Our NICU families are all excited about this endeavor and several have committed to walking in the April 17 or May 7 events!
I still have 6 shirts not decorated, so there is still more work to do!
Angie
Friday, February 4, 2011
T-shirts for Tots
I am very excited because next week we are going to have a parent/sibling arts and crafts workshop for our event kick-off March 2nd. Each year, the March of Dimes (MOD) has two walks on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, one in Salisbury and one in Assateague. These walks are launched with a local kick-off ceremony in Salisbury and one at our hospital facility. I will be helping out with both.
This year, our NICU families who would like to participate and our staff (two of whom have prior preemies, themselves) will decorate onsies with puff paint celebrating the birth of their daughter or son. Siblings will be encouraged to help, too. The onsies can be decorated in any way, first names or initials only, birth weight, etc. They will then be used to decorate our walk tents.
It is so much fun to engage our families in this, especially the little brothers and sisters of these special babies. The MOD is dedicated to funding research for prematurity. This is one way to raise awareness and impact the future health of our babies right here at home.
Angie
This year, our NICU families who would like to participate and our staff (two of whom have prior preemies, themselves) will decorate onsies with puff paint celebrating the birth of their daughter or son. Siblings will be encouraged to help, too. The onsies can be decorated in any way, first names or initials only, birth weight, etc. They will then be used to decorate our walk tents.
It is so much fun to engage our families in this, especially the little brothers and sisters of these special babies. The MOD is dedicated to funding research for prematurity. This is one way to raise awareness and impact the future health of our babies right here at home.
Angie
Monday, January 24, 2011
Contract signed, sealed and delivered
This is my first ever experience in blogging! I am thrilled that I was able to get this far by myself.
Today, I spoke with my Service Learning site coordinator and am so excited that I get to volunteer at a place that is near and dear to my heart. The March of Dimes mission is eradicating prematurity and until that day that every mother is able to deliver an infant at term, it is dedicated to fundraising, advocating and educating the public and health care on the sequelae of premature birth.
I am excited to continue my volunteer efforts on behalf of the March of Dimes. I support their mission and their goals as part of my own practice in the NICU.
Angie
Today, I spoke with my Service Learning site coordinator and am so excited that I get to volunteer at a place that is near and dear to my heart. The March of Dimes mission is eradicating prematurity and until that day that every mother is able to deliver an infant at term, it is dedicated to fundraising, advocating and educating the public and health care on the sequelae of premature birth.
I am excited to continue my volunteer efforts on behalf of the March of Dimes. I support their mission and their goals as part of my own practice in the NICU.
Angie
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