by Briana Pastorino on 2015-09-25
Moms and their new babies will have even more to smile about thanks to a special delivery from Mattel.
The toy company made the first of three donations of 300 baby rattles to the labor and delivery unit at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH) Thursday, Sept. 17. Maria Holmes, assistant manager at Mattel’s San Bernardino distribution center, helped deliver the toys to the hospital.
“Giving back to the community, particularly children, is what makes our work at Mattel so meaningful,” said Holmes. “It means so much to know that these small gifts will bring so much joy to mothers and their newborns. We are thankful to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital for allowing us to be a part of the great work they do for mothers and babies every day.”
In addition to the baby rattles, Holmes has made a personal commitment to donate a baby swing every month to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The swings, which Holmes began donating in July, are intended for the receiving family to take home or can remain on the unit – wherever the need is greater.
Holmes toured the Loma Linda University Health campus in March and was reminded of a close family member’s experience with her premature baby when she walked through the NICU.
“Moms have a lot to think about on top of the health of their newborn,” she said. “I noticed babies being rocked by nurses during my tour, and I thought a swing would be a helpful tool for the NICU nurses.”
Jill Howie, service line director for the Perinatal Institute at LLUCH, was overjoyed at Holmes’s benevolence. “Some babies can only be consoled with a swing,” she said, acknowledging there is a great need for swings in the NICU. “Swings stimulate the babies and help them grow in different ways.”
Mattel’s generosity does not stop with their gifts to LLUCH.
In July, employees at the toy company helped CHiPs for Kids collect over 600 toys during a toy drive. Toys from that event will be used as prizes for kids during Loma Linda University Health’s annual Family Health Fair and 5k Sunday, Nov. 1 at the Drayson Center.