Due to the recent storms, the annual March of Dimes March for Babies event has been rescheduled to May 15, and organizers are now taking donations to help expectant mothers and babies affected by the devastating storms.
According to Cindy Hackler, senior community director for March of Dimes in Chattanooga, registration begins May 15 at 1 p.m. at Camp Jordan. Lunch and a variety of other activities will be going on until 3 p.m., when the March for Babies walk around Camp Jordan begins.
“We made the decision before we even knew Camp Jordan was not useable last weekend, because we felt like it was the wrong time to try and hold our event,” Hackler said. “People needed to be helping their communities.”
In an effort to aid pregnant mothers and babies who have been affected by these storms, Hackler said the Chattanooga March for Babies team is partnering with Giggle and Grow Childcare Center to distribute supplies directly to these families.
Crib sheets, diapers, formula, baby food, baby wipes and individual flavor packets for bottled water can be dropped off at Chrysalis Gifts at 1401 W. 14th St., Giggle and Grow Childcare Center on Graysville Road, Community National Bank in Ringgold or Rossville and Kmart locations in Hixson, Highway 58, Cleveland, Dalton and Fort Ogelthorpe.
Supplies are also being collected at the March for Babies event.
“The event itself will be a celebration,” she said. “Incorporated into that we will be doing a moment of silence to mourn the losses. We will acknowledge some of the things our partners have been doing that day for the community outreach as well as what we’re doing to rebuild our community.”
March of Dimes will also be providing disaster planning materials that focus specifically on meeting the needs of pregnant women and infants to major community partners like Kmart, Erlanger and Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union, Hackler said.