By Roger Bjoroy-Karlsen, Public Image Chair, RUG
"Layettes" Excuse me? Layettes!
Far from everyone is familiar with the term, even though it has been used since 1839. A layette is an assembly of clothing and accessories for a newborn child, typically including diapers, blankets, and baby clothes. It's a rescue bag for mothers who have just had a baby or are about to have one, especially those who are financially disadvantaged. Meet a Rotary Club that makes this possible!
RUG is collaborating with the Rotary Club of Beaumont from Texas, USA, which creates these layettes. The club provides the items, assembles them in bags, and locates communities where it is needed. This time, RUG is making sure that some of them reach the island of Guanaja. Our member, and service project/ environment chair, Mack Yovanne Baca Bennett, is responsible for delivering them to those in need on the island, and Lutzi Kirkconnel, one of our other members, is responsible for it at Bonacca Cay.
The people in the layette assembly are Mary Pat Jones, Robert Kocot, Lane Olson, Bruce Walker, Pat Anderson, and Jay Wilson Senior from the Rotary Club of Beaumont.
This is the content that The Rotary Club of Beaumont is packing in the layette bags (Photo: The Rotary Club of Beaumont)
Dana Timeaus is the Rotary Club of Beaumont's point of contact for distributing the layettes in general, also through RUG. He explains:
“The layette project started many years ago and is a finite project, limited in part by the funds available as district grants."
He continues:
“The club aspires to use the layette giveaway as a building block to achieve more than just gifting. The idea is to use the layettes as a catalyst, a tool, a door opener, and a conversation starter. We hope that those who give layettes will also build personal relationships.”
Last time, in July this year, the club supported the handout on the island of Utila.
Rotary Club of Beaumont and Rotary Club of RUG volunteers, with local partners, delivered layettes to families in need on Utila in July. Dana Timeaus to the left.
President Angela explains the procedure:
"We use the patronados (the city council) to locate the new families, or pregnant women who need the extra help, and then we ensure their names are given to the local clinic so the nurse can have follow-ups with them"
RUG appreciates the effort and is more than happy to contribute to the distribution and will use it as intended by the Beaumont Rotary Club!
And now even you and I know what it is. The layettes!
If you want to sponsor the Rotary Club of Beaumont's work making layettes and improving women's ability to give their babies a better start, you can donate here: https://www.sagepayments.net/eftcart/forms/donate.asp?M_id=481429125731
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