Ronald McDonald House – We stayed at the RMDH for four days during Ellie’s fight. This organization holds a special place in our hearts. We asked for donations in lieu of flowers at Ellie’s memorial service, raising over $750. We also signed up to bring lunch to the families staying in the house and hope to continue to do this several times a year.
American Heart Association – We asked for donations in lieu of flowers at Ellie’s memorial service, raising over $750. We plan to make annual donations to the AHA.
NICU Care Packages – based of the Project Sweet Peas initiative, I created "Eleanor's Light" packages for the NICU where Ellie spent her short six days. The packages contained:
- Footprint/handprint molds.
- Memory box for baby’s items, lock of hair, etc.
- Books and resources on infant loss and information on local support groups.
- A memorial stuffed animal and blanket.
- A candle to light in memory and honor of the child.
- A packet of Kleenex
- Handmade sympathy cards
- A disposable camera
March of Dimes – I walked in two March for Babies events in 2010. I held a charity garage sale and placed buckets throughout my town to collect change. Along with fundraising on Facebook and the generous support of family and friends, we raised close to $3,000 in 2010! This year we have raised $1,200!
Face2Face (Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope) – I started a local Face2Face group. It is a social group for both bereaved mothers and fathers. The meetings are held monthly.
The Compassionate Friends – I attend these meetings monthly and have made amazing connections and hope to be more involved in the future.
