Impact Statement: Subaru Share The Love
February 8th, 2023
Since 2007, Newborns in Need has served the youngest and most vulnerable babies in Alaska. Our Alaska Chapter was founded by those who wanted to put their sewing knitting/crochet and other craft skills to use for the good of others. We are a volunteer based (no paid staff) chapter caring for low-income families in our community. Over the years we have gathered volunteers who enjoy making and collecting items that we use to fill Baby Essentials Bags: quilts, blankets, bibs, diapers, wet wipes, clothing, etc. In addition to the baby bags, we also support hospital NICU and bereavement programs. We have partnered with the TEARS Chapter of Anchorage (a program focused on child loss) with our bereavement items. We expanded our reach slowly, working up to providing about 144 bags per year. However, it was becoming difficult to continue at this pace. Funding had always been a challenge for us, and our volunteers were using their own funds to ensure that there were enough available supplies for the supported communities. There were several times we were not sure we would have enough resources to continue our mission. Fast forward to 2017. A Continental Subaru representative reached out and told us that they had chosen our own Newborns In Need as recipients of the annual Subaru Share the Love® hometown charity! We were excited, thinking we’d receive a few thousand dollars to help keep us afloat for a few more years. Never in our wildest dreams did we think we’d receive over $34,000. Because of these funds, we were able to donate 448 baby essential bags in 2022 and expand our reach beyond Anchorage. We now serve communities from the Kenai Peninsula to Glennallen. As the only chapter of Newborns in Need in Alaska, our goal is to continue to grow our reach throughout Alaska – starting with those communities on the road system. Thank you, Continental Subaru and Subaru of America, for not only giving us the boost we needed in 2017, but the resources to grow our program. We are still all volunteers, and we continue to make a difference in the community of Alaska – one baby at a time.
