Babies and Books

Join us this holiday season as Ella's Halo hosts our first annual book drive. We are very excited about setting up a book drive to help NICUs here in the Twin Cities. 

WHY BOOKS:

Here are a few benefits you may not have known about why it is so important to read to babies, especially babies in the NICU!

1. Reading aloud to your baby is a wonderful shared activity you can continue for years to come — and it's an important form of stimulation and communication.  It usually is something that is continued once the baby gets to come home.
2. When reading, babies hear different emotions and expressive sounds which helps to foster social and emotional development even at a young age.
3. And most important it helps to create a bond between baby and parent.  Babies love their parents closeness and voice while parents get to bond with their bundle of joy.  The Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics did a study on reading to babies in the NICU. They found that 70% of parents that read to their babies in the NICU felt a closer bond with their preemie.

***And for many other reasons check out this site to learn about the benefits of reading to babies.

 

Not only are we are we accepting new or gently used children's books but are also accepting adult books as well.  We spent many hours sitting next to Ella's bedside. Often times when I wasn't taking to the nurses, listening to lullabies with Ella, or telling her stories and reading her books, I was sitting in the chair and reading about NICU life and preemies myself.  Sometimes even reading romance novels to help take my mind off being in the hospital.  So check your bookshelves to see if you have books that you have read and  would like to donate to parents of the NICU too.

 

HOW TO HELP: 

Book drives can be something you start on your own or by simply going through your bookshelf.  Here are some helpful tips for helping you get started in collected new or gently used books. 

1. During your holiday party this year, instead of doing an ornament exchanges or having guests bring an appetizer to share, have them bring a book they could donate.  What a fun way for people to get together around the holiday season, spending time with family and friends, and donating a book that could be read to a baby who has to spend Christmas in the NICU this year.
2. Set up a box at work and have your co-workers join in on the fun.  Getting others involved and organizing your own mini book drive is half the fun of giving back.  Check with your employer and start collecting books this holiday season.
3. Check with organizations your kids are involved in. Mother's Day Out programs, after school programs and Boy and Girl Scouts are always looking for service projects to get kids involved.  See what Kid's Company did this summer at their book and blanket drive for Ella's Halo.

WHERE TO DONATE:

It is easy to donate!  Just contact us by email at info@ellashalo.com and we will arrange for you to ship or for pick up of the books you donated.  Also we would love to hear your stories about how you are organizing your book drive to support Ella's Halo! 

WHEN TO START:
 

Right now!  We are hoping to donate all of the books before December 25th to area NICUs.  So start collecting today! 

Check out Minnesota Paralegal Association and see how they are helping Ella's Halo with their very own book drive.

Babies and Books- Ella's Halo book drive!  Help us, help babies this holiday season.