In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting the work some of our nonprofit partners are doing to serve women in communities across Pittsburgh.
PA Organization for Women in Early Recovery‘s mission is to “help women reclaim their lives from addiction and related emotional health issues and improve the well-being of future generations.” They offer gender-responsive, trauma-informed treatment and support services just for women. POWER is always looking for volunteers! Learn more about getting involved here.
Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank is a part of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. Their mission is to “improve the health and survival of medically vulnerable infants by providing pasteurized donor breast milk.” They serve facilities and families of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Maryland. If you’re interested in donating, you can learn more here!
Green Building Alliance “advances innovation in the built environment by empowering people to create environmentally, economically, and socially vibrant places.” Through their Women+ in Green events network, they are working to celebrate and support women, femme, and nonbinary leaders in sustainability.
Global Links “is a medical relief and development organization dedicated to supporting health improvement initiatives in resource-poor communities and promoting environmental stewardship in the US healthcare system.” One of their core components is Maternal & Infant Health. Their International Medical Aid program provides support at the institution level with needs assessments, equipment, medical/surgical supplies, and exam furnishings. Domestically, Global Links’ Community Partners Program support women’s shelters, crisis nurseries, and maternity care homes with distributions of newborn clothing and care supplies, formula, blankets, and more. You can help by donating
- Diapers: size newborn and 1
- Baby clothes: size newborn through 9 months
- Baby hygiene (unscented!): baby wipes, baby lotion, baby wash/shampoo
- Baby washcloths
Hello Neighbor works to improve the lives of recently resettled refugee families by matching them with dedicated neighbors to guide and support them in their new lives. Their Smart Start for Refugee Moms and Children program matches local volunteers with new refugee mothers to serve as allies and advocates as they learn to navigate motherhood in a new city and culture. They hope that through this support, this reduces periods of isolation, provides community support, and ensures that both mom and baby have everything they need. This program has three initial initiatives:
- Provide baby boxes to each new mom, complete with necessary newborn items like diapers, clothing, toys, and formula.
- Organize a community meal train to make and deliver meals for the family in the first month after birth.
- Match an educated and caring advocate volunteer with each new mom to visit before and after birth, help schedule doctors’ appointments, and help connect her to other resources that can continue to support her and baby.
To get involved, email info@helloneighbor.io for more information on becoming a Smart Start Refugee Mothers and Children advocate.