Request for donations: 2010 Healthy Birth Initiative Holiday Gift Drive

November 2, 2010

Did you know that in Multnomah County, the infant mortality rate of African Americans is twice that of the general population? Healthy Birth Initiative (HBI) is a program of Multnomah County’s Early Childhood Services that provides low-income African American families who live in North, Northeast and Southeast Portland with support services that aim to reduce infant mortality and illness.

This year, the Healthy Birth Initiative is asking community partners to support families in the program by donating gifts for the holiday season. HBI aims to provide gifts and supplies for all the families in the program this December.

Please bring unwrapped gifts to HBI, located at 5329 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. by December 1, 2010. For questions or to make arrangements for donations to be picked up, please call 503-988-3387 extension 29074 to speak with Ellie Myrick or 28137 to speak with Dianne Clay.

The following gifts are suggested for your holiday giving:

  • Baby supplies, clothes and toys for infants:
    • ages 0-2 years (120 of these types of gifts are needed)
    • Toys and books for girls:
      • ages 3-5 (50 of these types of gifts are needed)
      • ages 6-11 (35 of these types of gifts are needed)
      • ages 12-15 (25 of these types of gifts are needed)
    • Toys and books for boys:
      • ages 3-5 (50 of these types of gifts are needed)
      • ages 6-11 (35 of these types of gifts are needed)
      • ages 12-15 (25 of these types of gifts are needed)
    • Games, books or movies for families:
      • (120 of these types of gifts are needed)
    • Stress-Relief/Pampering items (candles, bubble bath and oils) for moms:
      • (120 of these types of gifts are needed)