NYCHA Distributed Welcome Baby Bags to Expecting Families
More than 205 bags with baby essentials and toys were distributed to NYCHA families who registered their expecting status through the Authority’s Self-Service Portal.
NYCHA’s Resident Engagement Department, in cooperation with Health Initiatives and the Fund for Public Housing (the Fund), partnered with Baby2Baby and Moms for Moms to purchase, assemble, and deliver door to door the 205 bags full of baby essentials across five boroughs.
“I was so surprised when I got the knock on my door and was given a bag of goodies,” said Chanette from Cypress Hills Houses. “My husband recently passed away, and I’m doing everything on my own, so this was definitely a blessing.”
Healthy Start @ NYCHA is a new program connecting expecting families to resources and support. Since its launch, 458 families let NYCHA know about their expecting status via the Self-Service Portal. The program not only distributes baby and mom essentials but also provides services, information, and resources for expecting families.
“The Fund is a champion of the program and volunteered to assemble bags in Industry City,” said Ella Santos, Project Manager at Healthy Start @ NYCHA. “The Fund is also pursuing additional funding opportunities to ensure program sustainability, longevity, and equitable distribution to all new NYCHA families that can benefit from our support.”
“I love the program; they helped me connect with the [NYC Health Department’s] Family Wellness Suites, who provided me with diapers and wipes,” said Maria, a resident from Forest Houses. “The Moms for Moms bag came at the perfect time – I just used the last diaper in the pack.”
Samantha Rogers, a Resident Engagement Department Manager, said the residents were elated to receive gifts delivered to their door: “This personal touch acts as a morale booster for both staff and residents. It is a measure that indicates NYCHA cares about our residents, and this initiative personified that in a great way. The smiles on the faces of the residents were priceless! From the tireless efforts of staff helping to transport bags from NYCHA offices to residents’ homes, this endeavor was worth the labor. Staff went out to distribute these baby bag gifts during an unprecedented two-week heat wave in NYC and did it effectively and happily.”
You can let NYCHA know if your family is expecting through the Self-Service Portal. Sharing this information will help NYCHA create safer homes for children and keep you up to date with information and available resources. If you have any questions, please email healthy.start@nycha.nyc.gov or call 212-306-8282.
