CORPORATE PARTNERS JOIN IN TO HELP MARCH OF DIMES HELP MOTHERS AND BABIES
When the March of Dimes asked corporate partners to help in meeting the needs of pregnant women, babies and young families affected by Hurricane Katrina, the response was immediate and overwhelming.
Ther-Rx Corporation, a subsidiary of KV Pharmaceutical Company, donated over 500,000 prescription prenatal vitamins and delivered them to health clinics in Baton Rouge, River Ridge, Metairie, and Zachary, LA and Gulfport, MS. The vitamins will be distributed to pregnant women and women of childbearing age who were displaced or otherwise affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Gymboree has provided and continues to send clothes for premature and full-term babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Clothes are being distributed at shelters in Baton Rouge, many of which have been set up especially for parents taking take their new babies “home” from the hospital.
Motherhood Maternity has provided maternity clothes for the hundreds of pregnant women in Baton Rouge. Clothing is being distributed by the March of Dimes at both special shelters for pregnant women and areas within larger shelters set up for pregnant women. Distribution is also taking place when women come to the hospital for health care (all women 34 or more weeks pregnant are told to go to a hospital to check their health status before coming to a shelter.)
Children’s Medical Ventures, a subsidiary of Respironics, has donated hundreds of special tiny diapers for premature babies for use in hospital newborn intensive care units where displaced babies have been taken in. Children’s Medical Ventures also has provided other special supplies for hospital nurseries, including pacifiers for premature babies and disposable medical items that were in short supply in the NICUs.
Mead Johnson donated over 80 cases of ready-to-feed formula to the March of Dimes for delivery to infants in the New Orleans Convention Center and the airport over the holiday weekend. Although babies had been evacuated from the Superdome and the Convention Center to the triage area at the airport, many had not eaten since early in the week. Food provided did not include formula for babies under one year old.
