Spring 2024 is Volunteer Laura’s one year anniversary giving her time, energy and talents to Stork Support and we’d like to take this opportunity to share more about her service.

Laura’s gifts to our community have made huge impacts and she’s kept us going in many ways. She kicked off the year by collecting donations from her neighbors in January that totaled 1,694 diapers and 5 full boxes of maternity, postpartum and newborn essentials! This empowered us to serve more families this year and help to keep more babies clean, dry and healthy for our under-resourced neighbors.

In April she served beside Nikola at the Spring annual Project Homeless Connect with Homeward Alliance. It was a humbling experience and inspired the recognition of how much can be accomplished just through giving your time and love.

She has yet to miss a Diaper Bag Stuffing Party since her first in 2023 and she serves our community with heart and concierge service at our public distribution events. We took a minute to ask Laura to share in her own words her experience volunteering for Stork Support and her story of finding closure with her young motherhood journey was inspiring to us all!

I was looking into alternative donation options for gently used baby items. As I was researching this, I came across some amazing organizations in our community, but one stuck out more than others. Stork Support appeared to be mostly run off of Facebook rather than a website, and had a very obvious head of the program. I even noticed it had an upcoming event for a “Diaper Bag Stuffing Party!” There was certainly something more meaningful about not just dropping off the item, but loading it up with fresh necessities to pass on, to someone in need, in our NoCO community, within the next month.

The next event was a “volunteer power hour in Nikola’s garage” and that’s when I realized this woman was running this operation out of her own garage.

​After I left the diaper bag stuffing party I made a promise to myself that I would volunteer for Stork Support at least once a month. That was 13 months ago this April.

Ultimately, I believe that to help a mother is to help her children. Getting milk and formula to babies in need is far and away the most necessary service, but the multifaceted support that Nikola has adapted to a birthing person’s needs is truly the most meaningful to me.

​These include, but are not limited to, maternity needs, nursing, postpartum, personal and menstrual hygiene, and to be able to have these offerings delivered to those without transportation is nothing short of a miracle. It takes a village, and I’m grateful to have come upon it.

I believe everyone should volunteer or donate to a cause they feel passionate about. And if you’re not sure what cause you feel passionate about- just get out there!

Chances are you’re going to learn SO much by being around those who are running these organizations. Goodness knows I’ve learned much more than when I started.

Such as the price of formula going from $0.10 per ounce in 2020 up to $1.70 today, 2 in 5 menstruators struggle to purchase products due to lack of income in addition to WIC and SNAP benefits not eligible to be used on purchases for essential hygiene and health items with these federally-funded programs.

​There’s lots of monthly opportunities at Stork Support- and volunteering to drop off support packages can even be done on your own schedule if none of the events match with your full calendar. A goal of volunteering once a month is a great place to start. Get out there, people and be the change you wish to see and support those who already are!