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Every day, families turn to WithinReach during some of life’s most overwhelming moments. They are looking for the essentials that keep a household whole—healthy food, stable healthcare, clothes, and reliable transportation. 

But when a baby is on the way? Securing these essentials can feel like a race against the clock.  Preparing for a newborn means making sure parents themselves are nourished, healthy, and cared for, both during pregnancy and after the baby arrives. 

That’s why we are so grateful for the opportunity to directly support families with practical essentials for both pregnancy and the postpartum period through dedicated funding focused on meeting families’ immediate needs.  

100 Packs of Love and Support 

Building on the positive response to previous baby bag outreach efforts, the Help Me Grow Washington team assembled 100 pregnancy and postpartum support packs and will distribute them to pregnant callers and clients across the state.  Funds for these support packs were provided by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families

What’s Inside the Support Packs? 

Each pack was thoughtfully designed using direct feedback from parents to ensure the items were genuinely useful, high-quality, and comforting. WithinReach staff hosted two packing parties to carefully fill each one with: 

• The Basics: Diapers, wipes, diaper cream, and a diaper caddy. 
• Baby Essentials: Pacifiers, baby hygiene items, a silicone bib, and a Help Me Grow Washington hooded towel and onesie. 
• Oral Health: An adult dental care kit, baby toothbrush, and information about Dentist Link from our partners at Arcora Foundation. 
• Flexibility: A gift card so families can purchase exactly what they uniquely need most

Once packed, the bags are being boxed and mailed directly to homes throughout Washington, and will all be on their way to families by the end of May—eliminating the stress of needing to leave the house during those first few vulnerable weeks. 

Why Tangible Support Matters 

According to the Washington State Health Care Authority, approximately 1 in 5 people experience symptoms of postpartum anxiety and/or depression after giving birth. During such a tender time, having basic needs met can make a massive difference in a family’s mental and physical wellbeing. 

“When I had my baby a few months ago, some people told me that all a newborn needs is love, milk, and diapers,” shared Kate Agyei Yeboah, Help Me Grow WA Partnership Manager at WithinReach who is supporting the project. “But as a new mom, let me tell you—the ‘other things’ help immensely. It is incredibly hard to leave the house during those first few weeks. Knowing firsthand how vulnerable that postpartum period is makes me so passionate about this project. Sending these high-quality, practical essentials straight to a parent’s doorstep isn’t just about giving them supplies; it’s about telling them, ‘We see you, we care about you, and you are not doing this alone.’” 

Meeting Families Where They Are 

At WithinReach, we know that support looks different for everyone. 

• Sometimes it means helping someone enroll in health insurance or find food assistance. 

• Sometimes it means connecting a parent to a pediatrician or mental health resources. 

• And sometimes, it means making sure a family has diapers, wipes, and a few comforting essentials waiting at their front door right when they need them most. 

Because every family deserves support from the very start. 💜