Who doesn’t love babies? They’re cute, they’re cuddly, and they look like angels when they’re sleeping. They can also be expensive—really expensive!—right from the start. Besides the cost of maternity care and hospital bills, it’s pretty spendy to get all the stuff you need to take care of them. Diapers, blankets, car seats, strollers, sleepers, diaper bags, pacifiers…and that’s just to get them from the hospital to the house!

        The Assistance League® of Boise sponsors a program called Baby Bundles that gives some new parents a hand with those early expenses. The bundles are assembled by Assistance League volunteers and distributed by hospital staff members in three area hospitals to new parents who need a little extra help. Last year, Baby Bundles helped 369 families in our community.

        Baby Bundles are delivered in mesh bags that can double as diaper bags. Each bundle contains onesies, sleepers, disposable diapers, blankets, baby wash, baby wipes, and a baby thermometer.

        The Assistance League depends on donations to keep this program going. Because all of the items provided in the bundles are very specific in color and manufacturer, the Assistance League cannot accept donations of baby items.

        However, cash is always happily accepted, and you can donate gently-used items to sell at the Assistance League Thrift Shop (5825 Glenwood, Garden City, 377-4327), which funds the organization’s philanthropic programs.

        To learn more about Baby Bundles, visit http://boise.assistanceleague.org, click on Philanthropic Programs, then click on Baby Bundles. Or you may contact Gwen Greenfield at 890-9134.

Donna Bankhead is a local contributing writer from Boise.