Brooksby Village Residents Help Infants, Young Mothers

Christmastime has always centered around children, from the very young to the very old and a group of ladies at Brooksby Village makes sure that infants and young mothers are not forgotten this holiday season.

According to Dani Baldassare, a Brooksby Village spokeswoman, up to 10 of the retirement community's residents make up the Busy Fingers group and each year they hand-knit baby clothes, blankets and other items for young mothers who otherwise might not be able to provide such things for their newborns on the North Shore or in Merrimack Valley.

The "Welcome Home Baby" project benefits struggling families in the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's Healthy Families and Connecting Families program, according to Baldassare.

This year the Busy Fingers group knitted more than 100 items that included, sweaters, hats, blankets, mittens and booties. Hundreds of other Brooksby Village residents donated other baby and children items, she said.

This special project assembles baskets, fills them with baby items and gives them to new mothers to help them with their transition home from the hospital, according to Baldassare. 

"A number of people who live here get together once a month to knit and touch base on what else needs to be made for the MSPCC's "Welcome Home Baby Baskets" said Liz Hamp, Brooksby Village's volunteer program coordinator. "We have a wonderful relationship with the MSPCC and look forward to working with them for years."

Christine Nesbit, the Healthy Families Supervisor at MSPCC, said her group is very grateful for the generous donations and work done by the Brooksby Village community.

"We can't thank Brooksby Village enough for all of their donations," sai Nesbit. "We walked into a room full of clothes, blankets, knitted items and much more from our friends at Brooksby Village.  These donations will help many families." 

MSPCC is a private, non-profit child welfare organization with a long-standing commitment to the children of Massachusetts.  Since 1878, MSPCC has served as a leading advocate for children and families, pioneering and providing programs that prevent child abuse, treat the victims of abuse, and strengthen families.

Healthy Families is a statewide home visiting program available to first time parents age 20 and under, funded by the Children's Trust Fund.