WEST LEBANON — An organization that assists mothers with newborns in the Upper Valley is looking for more volunteers as it expands its reach.
“We are getting more requests than ever before,” said Karen Morton, executive director, of Good Beginnings. She credits the increase, in part, to more health care providers letting people know about the nonprofit’s services.
The nonprofit pairs a volunteer with a mother and infant to visit them at home for a few hours once a week for the first six months of the child’s life, though the age range can be adjusted depending on when the parent signs up. It is free for every family, regardless of income.
“We are getting a lot of requests from moms as they hit the six-week mark and return to work,” Morton said. “It’s like a friendly next-door neighbor coming in, except they’ve gone through a background check.”
The program applies to infants who have been adopted and in foster care. Volunteers must be age 18 and older. They do not have to have children to volunteer, although some experience with infants is required.
“Some of the moms (who volunteer) have young children, but most of them have children that are in school or out of the house. Some might be grandmas,” Morton said.
Volunteers are asked to commit to the full 12 weeks and can discuss with the family which day and time work best. Most volunteers assist one family at a time and their tasks depend on the family’s needs.
“They generally hold the baby so mom or dad can take a nap or do their finances or get some work done,” Morton said. “Or, if a parent is interested, they can go out and go grocery shopping.”
Other times, a volunteer might read to an older sibling so that a mother can have one-on-one time with her infant.
Volunteers are especially needed in Canaan, Sunapee, Andover and Wilmot, N.H., and in Springfield, Vt.
“Those are places we’ve had a lot of requests for recipients, but haven’t had a lot of volunteers,” Morton said. “We try to match the volunteers with a family in their own town so they’re not driving too far.”
Editor’s note: For more information or to sign up to be a volunteer, visit gbuv.org or call 603-298-9524.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
