Queensburgh baby organisation births new plans

BOUNCING into the New Year is the Queensburgh organisation, Grace for Babies.

The organisation will celebrate its third anniversary this year and hopes to spread love and joy to more babies.

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For Julie Shadwell, the organisation started as a vision when her daughter was still a baby.

“My daughter was just over a year old and I was going through financial distress. I thought ‘if I am experiencing this problem and can just afford to reach my baby’s needs, how must mothers, who cannot afford the items, feel?’ I posted my idea to help others mothers on Facebook and people started messaging me about old clothes that they had to donate. I purchased some toiletries and baby products and made two hampers for mothers,” said the caring 33-year-old.

Shadwell has assisted more than 3 000 families since the inception of the organisation and hopes to further its reach this year.

“We are in desperate need of a bigger vehicle and are now appealing for donations. I am in the process of getting my public benefit organisation registration done and I will be able to issue certificates to sponsors. We help parents without any discrimination. I hope to visit schools and give the learners talks about teenage pregnancies and I’m hoping to work with a social worker,” she said.

Recalling one of her most memorable cases at the organisation, she said, “One of the cases that I will remember forever was when a pregnant 15-year-old girl reached out to me after having no one to turn to. On the day she was due to collect her parcel, she didn’t show up, so I contacted her. She said she was in labour but that she would collect the parcel the next day. I was shocked to find out that government hospitals discharge mothers so fast.”

“Two days later, she came through. She was a tiny girl when we gave her the parcel and she burst into tears. She showed me the baby and he was covered in newspaper and a hospital pillowcase.

“We wiped up, changed and bottle-fed the baby. She was so happy and named the baby Grace, after our organisation.”

It was amazing and this is why I want to help other mothers. I’m very passionate about the well-being of babies. We get donations of clothing and food. Everything is pre-packed and sanitised.”

The purpose of the organisation is to assist mothers with at the start of their new journey and it also encourages them to empower themselves.

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