Because we have a baby range and love healthy and happy babies – and just helping out wherever we can – we were really pleased to get behind a fundraising drive by Littlemore in May 2017. This organisation gives baby clothes and other equipment donated by generous families to those in need.
It does this by partnering with organisations set up to distribute these items, such as trusts and DHB services.
Founder Laura Howard says she started Littlemore after hearing that some newborns were leaving hospital without baby clothes.
“I’m an art curator, with a background working in a variety of galleries and collections as a project manager. From a young age my family’s passion for social engagement instilled a desire to give practical community help.
“I established Littlemore in March 2013 after hearing a passing comment from my midwife about how some babies born at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland were sent home in baby-sized hospital gowns as their families had no clothes for them. As the mum of a newborn myself, my heart was touched and I couldn’t forget that conversation. I knew I had to do something about it, no matter how small it might seem in the overall scheme of things.”
Littlemore is staffed entirely by volunteers – a team of over 45 people. Laura says some give a couple of hours each month to sort clothes on Saturday morning, some deliver clothes and equipment to distribution partners and some are coordinators behind the scenes. It also has six experienced supporters as founding trustees.
In May it is fundraising to put tools and systems in place that will help the volunteer team, Laura says.
It is looking for people to become ‘Littlegivers’, as well as organisations and inviduals who could support Littlemore in kind. More information about donating can be found here. Its fundraising drive through Givealittle is focused on hiring a general manager.
As part of our support, the 40 volunteers received a gift of ecostore soap, and our baby care products were included in packs going out to families during May.
