Tillamook County General Hospital Community Care for Newborns It has often been said that it takes a village to raise a child. Children born at Tillamook County General Hospital (TCGH), located in the rural community of Tillamook on the Northern Oregon Coast, begin their village experience early. The newborns receive gifts and mementos donated by hospital staff and volunteers, as well as community residents and members of local churches. TCGH delivers these gifts, wrapped inside new diaper bags, to each mother. Inspired to Give Two years ago Brad Smith, pastor of the local First Baptist Church, spotted an advertisement offering Christian lullaby CDs for half-price. Excited by the great deal and inspired to somehow put the idea to work in ministry, he contacted Susan Chelone, an LPN working in the Family Birthing Place at TCGH. Chelone agreed the CDs would be a wonderful addition in the diaper bags, so Smith placed an order for 100. Today, Smith’s church is still purchasing and donating the CDs. They have proven to be very popular gift bag items. “It is such a joy to see the looks on a mother’s face when she opens her gift bag,” said Chelone, “and to know that you assisted in giving such a helpful present.” Other gift bag items include knitted caps, TCGH infant spoons, engraved, stretch name-bracelets, Noah’s Ark baby shirts proclaiming "We Deliver Only the Best,” TCGH sippy cups, rubber ducks, Tyco bears in pink or blue, and children’s books. Free samples and information packets are included for the mothers, too. Finally, TCGH chaplains place small children’s Bibles, either Spanish or English, on the top to complete each bag. Labor of Love Some mothers are unprepared and have little or nothing to take home with their new babies. These mothers need extra support. The layette program from Adventist Community Services (ACS) makes a difference. Layettes are sets of clothing and bedding for the newborns, given out in addition to the gift bags. The layette program started about 10 years ago when Carol Gorton of ACS donated a few homemade quilts to mothers in need. Where better to find those mothers, she thought, than in the local hospital? Since then, Elthaleta Williams joined ACS as a volunteer to hem the quilts. ACS began adding to the bags with donations of its own. Community residents and members of local church groups sent donated items as well. Now, the layettes include all the basics—diapers, diaper pins, plastic pants, nightgowns and receiving blankets in addition to the soft, homemade baby quilts. “Outreach efforts, like the diaper bags and layettes, bring a sense of community to what we do here,” said Melody Ayers, TCGH development coordinator. “These gifts are a direct tie-in with our mission to value each other as members of a caring family. Every mother who gives birth at TCGH becomes a part of our family. This is a perfect way to share God’s love with them.”
Tillamook County General Hospital
Community Care for Newborns
It has often been said that it takes a village to raise a child. Children born at Tillamook County General Hospital (TCGH), located in the rural community of Tillamook on the Northern Oregon Coast, begin their village experience early. The newborns receive gifts and mementos donated by hospital staff and volunteers, as well as community residents and members of local churches. TCGH delivers these gifts, wrapped inside new diaper bags, to each mother.
Inspired to Give
Two years ago Brad Smith, pastor of the local First Baptist Church, spotted an advertisement offering Christian lullaby CDs for half-price. Excited by the great deal and inspired to somehow put the idea to work in ministry, he contacted Susan Chelone, an LPN working in the Family Birthing Place at TCGH. Chelone agreed the CDs would be a wonderful addition in the diaper bags, so Smith placed an order for 100. Today, Smith’s church is still purchasing and donating the CDs. They have proven to be very popular gift bag items.
“It is such a joy to see the looks on a mother’s face when she opens her gift bag,” said Chelone, “and to know that you assisted in giving such a helpful present.”
Other gift bag items include knitted caps, TCGH infant spoons, engraved, stretch name-bracelets, Noah’s Ark baby shirts proclaiming "We Deliver Only the Best,” TCGH sippy cups, rubber ducks, Tyco bears in pink or blue, and children’s books. Free samples and information packets are included for the mothers, too. Finally, TCGH chaplains place small children’s Bibles, either Spanish or English, on the top to complete each bag.
Labor of Love
Some mothers are unprepared and have little or nothing to take home with their new babies. These mothers need extra support. The layette program from Adventist Community Services (ACS) makes a difference. Layettes are sets of clothing and bedding for the newborns, given out in addition to the gift bags.
The layette program started about 10 years ago when Carol Gorton of ACS donated a few homemade quilts to mothers in need. Where better to find those mothers, she thought, than in the local hospital?
Since then, Elthaleta Williams joined ACS as a volunteer to hem the quilts. ACS began adding to the bags with donations of its own. Community residents and members of local church groups sent donated items as well. Now, the layettes include all the basics—diapers, diaper pins, plastic pants, nightgowns and receiving blankets in addition to the soft, homemade baby quilts.
“Outreach efforts, like the diaper bags and layettes, bring a sense of community to what we do here,” said Melody Ayers, TCGH development coordinator. “These gifts are a direct tie-in with our mission to value each other as members of a caring family. Every mother who gives birth at TCGH becomes a part of our family. This is a perfect way to share God’s love with them.”
Preparing for a DeliveryCarol Gorton and Elthaleta Williams of Adventist Community Services prepare several sets of bedding and baby clothing for disadvantaged mothers who give birth at Tillamook County General Hospital.
