MOPS of LaBelle and First Christian Church seek to brighten the holidays for mothers with babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida this holiday season by providing each mother in the 64-room facility with NICU Care Packages.

“Thank you for thinking of the NICU,” said Lauren Jordan, administrative secretary at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) when asked about the NICU Care Package donations.

Each NICU Care Package will contain an adult coloring book and crayons to help mothers relieve some of the stress they are under while their baby is under the care of the NICU staff. The kits will also include a journal, pens, and chap stick. Each NICU Care Package costs $5.

“Mothers in the NICU could use a journal or chap stick as well,” said Jordan, “Self-care is very important for parents with babies in the NICU.”

There are two ways you can help donate a NICU Care Package.

1) Donate $5 at Belle’s Ice Cream Bar, 31 Fort Thompson Ave, LaBelle, FL 33935, to purchase a NICU Care Package for a mother with a baby in the NICU. When you donate, you will receive a gift tag to place on the Christmas Tree in the shop. Put your name on the “from” part of the tag so the mother who receives the gift will know who it is from.

2) Drop off items from the Wish List in the collection box at Winn Dixie, 960 S Main St, LaBelle, FL 33935.

Wish List: Adult Coloring Books, 24 Pack of Crayola Crayons, Journal, Pens and Chap Stick.

The last day to make monetary donations at Belle’s Ice Cream Bar or drop off donations from the Wish List to the collection box at Winn Dixie is Wednesday, December 20.

If you would like more information about providing a NICU Care Package for a mother spending the holidays in the NICU contact Megan Narehood at (239) 206-9881 or MOPSOFLABLLE@gmail.com.