Crib Communities

The Baby Corner began in 1988 as a simple cardboard box placed in St. Joseph Church on Capitol Hill. The box was soon replaced by a white crib, making St. Joseph the first Crib Community, whose members regularly donate infant and toddler items to the Baby Corner. Since 1988, the Baby Corner has acquired several more local Crib Communities. Thanks to Danny Siegel, who founded Ziv Tzedakah Fund, the Baby Corner's crib program has also served as the model for Mitzvah Cribs in synagogues and Jewish communal agencies across the nation.

Crib Communities are important because they provide a regular stream of in-kind donations to the Baby Corner. But they also benefit their own members by providing an opportunity to teach young children about compassion, as well as service opportunities for older children. Sponsoring a crib is also a great, socially responsible way to recycle usable clothing and equipment. Any way you look at it, it’s a rewarding enterprise for everyone involved! If you would like to start a Crib Community, here are some important considerations:

• You’ll need a sturdy, used crib with side rails.
• There must be a location where the crib is accessible.
• There should be 1–2 volunteers (with backups) who have a vehicle large enough to transport donations.
• Volunteers must be willing to transport donations every week or two to the Baby Corner during office hours (9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon, M–F).

For more information, please e-mail the Baby Corner, and we’ll have our Crib Coordinator contact you.

Giving Tree Communities

December is the crisis month for many service providers because of the onset of damp, chilly weather and the holidays. It’s also the end of the year, when the Baby Corner reserves are typically low. Thanks to our holiday Giving Trees, though, we are able to restock shelves in mid-December with everything from toddler toys to diapers, baby wash, and blanket sleepers. The Giving Trees are another vital source of in-kind donations to the Baby Corner.

A Giving Tree Community can be large or small. If you are interested in starting one in your workplace, faith community, or elsewhere, we will be happy to help you get started. We can provide you with a list of items, samples of tags to put on the tree, and suggestions for collecting and delivering the items. For more information, please e-mail the Baby Corner, and we’ll have our Giving Tree Coordinator contact you.

Thank you for your interest!