As part of a three year annual tradition, the Dreams Foundation, Inc held an event to collect items for newborns in Intensive Care. On Sunday the organization hosted its NICU Preemie and Newborn Drive Party.
Dreams Foundation says the hospital relies soley on donations for things like blankets and pajamas; so from February 14 to March 14 it will be collection donations.
The project was inspired by Sarah Carmona Zinc who is the co-founder of Dreams Foundation, Inc. Zinc's son was in the NICU for 1 month; he was born at 35 weeks with a birth defect called Gastroschisis, a birth defect of the abdominal wall.Â
"While you're there, you know, you're holding on to like any type of progress each day. Like, "oh, they drank an ounce of milk," or "their feeding tube is coming out, they're not on oxygen, they're off pain medicine." Zinc said as she described her experience in the NICU.
Zinc says her experience inspired her passion project to raise funds and donations for medical equipment. Last year the organization raised 639 Pairs of Pajamas, 354 Receiving Blankets, and $5000.00. Dreams Foundation says people can donate as little as a blanket and it makes a huge difference to a family and a child in recovery.
This year the biggest needs are blankets. The Dreams Foundation has partnered with Boppy and they are going to participate in a matching program For every 10 new Boppy pillows donated to the Dreams Foundation, Inc. (must have the receipt for proof of purchase), they will match it with a case of pillows. Up to 20 cases, with 10 in each case. Families in the NICU will get to take the pillows home with them.
This year donation drop off locations are at Truckee Meadows Water Authority, The Grille, Billinghurst Middle School, and Early Childhood Intervention. The Virginia City Leadership program is also holding a drive for the Dreams Foundation.
For more information you can visit http://dreamsfoundationinc.com/.
(Dreams Foundation, Inc. contributed to this report.)
