Bundles for Monroe County new mothers-in-need
As I walked with volunteer Cindy Barth up the heated stairwell to the small but comfortable workspace for The Angel’s Closet, her voice cracked with emotion as she pondered the organization’s ten year anniversary. As part of her life’s journey, Barth believes, as a Christian, volunteering “is something you’re supposed to do.”
Barth, of Stroudsburg, said her most gratifying moment while working with The Angel’s Closet was when it first started. The organization was in the Stroudsburg Memorial Day Parade. Volunteers decorated a truck in baby clothing and a banner to raise awareness for the organization. During the parade, a man stood on the hood of his car holding a baby and yelling, “Thank you! This is an Angel’s Closet baby!” Barth’s said she always gets emotional just thinking about this moment.
The concept was “born” in August 2000 when founder Julie Rubino gave birth to her daughter at Pocono Medical Center in East Stroudsburg. She couldn’t help but notice all of the other little toes and curled fists in the maternity ward.
During her stay, Rubino would frequently chit chat with the nursing staff. During one conversation, the nurses told her that many newborns leave the hospital without the necessary clothing items a newborn needs. Sometimes the nurses would all chip in money just to give some of the mothers-in-need an outfit or blanket to take their newborns home in.
After Rubino and her little bundle of joy were discharged from the hospital, she continued to think about the mothers-in-need and their unclothed babies. Telling her friends and family about what she had heard at Pocono Medical Center, Rubino and five other women began to brainstorm the concept behind The Angel’s Closet.
When deciding on a name for the organization, the women wanted it to be more than a clothing shelter with a religious touch. The members decided on The Angel’s Closet to describe their organization.
In 2001, Rubino decided to open her home to the women, and monthly, volunteers would sort, wash, take inventory, and assemble baby layette bundles. The bundles are then distributed to mothers-in-need from Monroe Country. On average, The Angel’s Closet distributes 350 layette bundles a year.
The layette bundles include:
- Hooded towels and washcloths
- Socks and booties
- Onesies
- Receiving blankets
- Outfits and sleepers
- Sweater/hats/booties sets
- Bibs and burp cloths
- Snowsuits
- Board books
- Stuffed animals
- Heavy blanket
The workroom has shelves from floor to ceiling with storage containers organized by gender, size, and outfit. The Angel’s Closet designs two sets of bundles—one for newborns and one for toddlers.
The bundles put together by The Angel’s Closet are so well received, partly because of the hand-quilted items crafted and donated by women from the Poconos. These artisans find The Angel’s Closet to be “a haven for their handiwork.” The handmade items range from hats and booties to burp cloths and blankets.
Before a volunteer started to make burp cloths, The Angel’s Closet was buying 12-packs of cloth diapers and using them as burp cloths for the bundles, which became costly. The new burp cloths are nicer and cheaper for the organization. Barth said, “The homemade items are keepsakes the babies wouldn’t be able to have otherwise.”
The Angel’s Closet does not have direct contact with the recipients of the layette bundles, but instead are partnered with Pocono Medical Center and other social service agencies that distribute the bundles. Barth said that it is hard not being able to see the gratefulness of the recipients of the bundles, however, volunteers receive numerous cards from new parents expressing their appreciation.
The Angel’s Closet is always in need of civic groups, businesses, and churches to hold drives on their behalf. It is currently in collaborating with East Stroudsburg University. Robert Moses, director of residence life and housing at ESU, and The Angel’s Closet are working to get donations from ESU students, faculty and staff toward any of the items in the baby layette bundles.
Barth said, “We are always in need of volunteers to sort and assemble layettes and donated items. Without them, our organization wouldn’t run.” It does allow other volunteer organizations, such as Boy Scout troops, church youth groups, and National Honor Society students, to help them organize layette bundles for service hours.
One of Barth’s fondest — and amusing — memories while working with younger volunteers comes from a local Cub Scout troop. The donated workroom doesn’t have a restroom, and as soon as the Cub Scouts got there, some of the boys had to go the bathroom. She had to walk all 15 Cub Scouts to The Potting Shed nearby where they could use the bathroom. Barth said, “It was fun to see all the boys have fun and learn what we do, but it wasn’t very productive.”
New and gently used clothing size 0-2T can be dropped off at The Potting Shed, 829 E. Ann Street, Stroudsburg. Tax deductable donations may be directed to The Angel’s Closet, P.O. Box 255, Stroudsburg, PA 18360. For more information on The Angel’s Closet, contact 570-426-8197 or info@theangelscloset.org.
Jamie Bennett, a junior at East Stroudsburg University, is a communication studies major in the public relations track with a minor in English. She is from McEwensville, Pa. and graduated from Warrior Run High School. Jamie is the assistant editor for the forum section of the Stroud Courier. In her spare time, Jamie enjoys the outdoors, sports, and traveling. In the fall, Jamie will be interning with ESU’s Office of University Relations.
