WHEN Baby Line was launched, the intention was always to help moms in need.

Outside of being a counselling and support service for pregnant moms struggling to care for their babies, the project has expanded to include delivering care packs to government hospitals in Durban, and last year, Johannesburg, through fundraising efforts.

The service is part of the NPO The Peace Agency, as well as The Baby Home Durban North, which cares for orphaned and abandoned babies.

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Thus far more than 2000 care packs have been distributed to women across the province.

Each care bag includes essentials such as baby clothing, toiletries and hygiene products. These are small but meaningful items that can make a significant difference during the first weeks after birth.

“We’ve now visited 15 hospitals with our most recent visit at Durban’s Victoria Mxenge Hospital. We try to do this at least once a month through the donations that come. Our biggest drive was to the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital last year; we delivered close to 200 care packs,” explained Baby Line’s national co-ordinator Tatum Teunissen.

According to Teunissen the hospital visits have become a deeply meaningful part of the organisation’s work.

“It is super heartwarming to see the reactions from the moms. It is also an overwhelming time for them too. Sometimes the moms we help have gone into labour unexpectedly and are far away from their homes, so what they get in the care pack is all they have but it makes a huge difference. Our hope is that every mother we meet leaves knowing that someone cares and that she is not alone. We also hope to expand our footprint to include other provinces to reach more moms,” she said.

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For more information visit www.babyline.org.za or to support the care pack initiative, email Tatum Teunissen at tatum@peaceagency.org.za.

• The number for the Baby Line National Hotline is 082 069 9067.

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