Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Help BabyCarrots Grow!


In order to grow, BabyCarrots needs:

  • A non-profit to work under

  • People and Farmers to donate fresh, local, organic, clean produce and meat

  • A place to process the donations (ie: a large kitchen with refrigerators and freezers)

  • A way to get it out to the low income pregnant women in our community 

  • Volunteers to help with all/any of the above and to help spread the word. ie: creating a info handout,  following this blog and emailing it to friends

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Resources

  • Santa Barbara Food Bank
http://www.foodbanksbc.org/index.html

  • Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program-CNTY* and Maternal Child Adolescent Health Program-CNTY*
345 Camino Del Remedio
Building 4, Room 331
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 681-5251 Main Line

(800) 288-8145 Toll Free
(805) 681-5424 FAX

  •  Teen-Age Parenting Program-S.B.*

315 Camino Del Remedio, Room 257
Santa Barbara, CA 93110

  • WIC (Women,Infants and Children Nutrition Program)-S.B.*
315 Camino Del Remedio
Santa Barbara, CA 93110

  • Catholic Charities-S.B.*

609 East Haley Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93103

  • Franklin Public Health Clinic-S.B.*

Site Address: 1136 East Montecito Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93103


  • Program Name: Prenatal Plus 2-Goleta*


Program Description: Provides services for Santa Barbara County pregnant women who are not eligible for MediCal and who have limited or no private insurance. Designed primarily for families in the middle income bracket. Each eligible woman receives prenatal and other needed health care services during pregnancy. Newborn babies can receive health care up to the age of two. Assistance with the application is provided.
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. M-F
Languages: Spanish, American Sign Language by arrangement, ATT Language Line
Fees: Based on subscriber income
Eligibility: Children with no health insurance
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Transportation: Public
Intake Call for application 1-877-814-1861

  • Villa Majella Maternity Home-S.B.

Target Populations: Pregnant Women
Ages Served: 18+
Phone (805) 683-2838 (Main Line)

and
 
SUP.GRP.:Unplanned Pregnancy and Single Mother Support-S.B.

Villa Majella Outreach Program (805) 563-2414

202 West Valerio Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

  • Westside Neighborhood Clinic-S.B.*

Site Address: 628 West Micheltorena Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-
805) 963-1546

Monday, August 23, 2010

Ways you can contribute:

In order to make this happen we need:
-Volunteers
-Donations of local organic, pesticide/chemical free produce and meat
-A location to keep the donated food until it is redistributed out to low-income pregnant women
-Refrigerators to keep the donated food fresh
-Vehicles and drivers to pick up and redistribute donated food
-A location where the donated food can be picked up by low-income family
-Non-profit status: either under another non-profit or form its own
http://www2.legalzoom.com/non-profits/non-profits-packages.html

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Planting the seeds

I'm looking to get local organic/pesticide free produce out to low income pregnant mothers. As a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse, I see many babies that are born either early or sick. A large population of those babies are from low income families. Research has shown that diet plays an important part in growing a healthy baby. Low income families lose out on good nutrition and 'clean' food because it is expensive and not readily available to them.  My vision is to provide low income pregnant mothers with healthy, pesticide free local produce and teach them ways to prepare healthy meals. As a community, we can create sustainable, green, healthy babies before they are born.
The other day it occurred to me how much extra produce I grow in my little 200 sq ft garden. I know others must experience the same if not more. Can you imagine if all the extra produce was distributed to low income families?! We can decrease the number of babies that are born prematurely and/or with other illnesses. Santa Barbara, as a community can help grow healthy babies!


Please contact me if you are willing to help volunteer and/or willing to donate your extra produce. Also if you have any input regarding the project, I would love to hear it.