(Camden, New Jersey) The tiniest patients at Cooper University Hospital can now be outfitted with special baby supplies thanks to a $10,000 donation to “Clare’s Cupboard” from the Moorestown Auxiliary. Cooper cares for 460 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients a year.
“Many of our families are with us for weeks, sometimes months, and donations like this help the parents go home with the supplies they need as parents and baby adapt to life outside of the hospital,” said Joanne Fox, NICU Clinical Director.
Pat Pearlman, a nurse in the NICU, began “Clare’s Cupboard” after a family from North Jersey came to Cooper bearing gifts of thanks after they gave birth to a premature baby girl. In gratitude for their young daughter’s survival, the family began a practice of donating gift cards to be used for the purchase of cozy baby blankets and other supplies to deserving families in Cooper’s NICU.
The donation by the Moorestown Auxiliary was raised through a fundraiser for “Clare’s Cupboard” at the home of Sonya Sandholm-Pound, a member of the organization. Over $10,000 dollars was presented to the NICU to be used to stock the “cupboard” with basic baby supplies such as diapers, bottles, formula, clothing and other essentials for NICU patients and their families.
The project “Clare’s Cupboard” continues to grow. Everyday, new patrons come to offer their help and provide donations. “At the end of the day everybody wins,” said Pearlman. “Nurses are more satisfied and fulfilled, babies are more content and parents go home prepared.”
Pictured: “Clare’s Cupboard” makes certain that each mom and infant leaves the NICU outfitted, thanks to: (back row left to right) Moorestown Auxiliary members Gale Parrillo; Janet Khalafalla, Auxiliary President; Sonja Sandholm-Pound; and Dolores Neugold. In the front row, left to right, are Cooper staff Patricia Pearlman, R.N., and Joanne Fox, R.N., clinical director of the NICU.