While I'm here in my new-mom-love-bubble, consumed with and fascinated by my child's every new move, it's tough to grasp the fact that there are millions of new and expecting mothers around the world who don't have such "luxury". They are enduring war, and all the devastation that comes along with it. I am eternally grateful for our home, safety, and our country, but I am well aware of a much different reality so many face. And though it might seem like we're so far removed and unaffected, truth is, we are all connected.
Refugee Women's Health Clinic
Arizona hosts almost 60,000 refugees (people who have been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster), with an average of 2,000 refugees arriving each year. Approximately half of the resettled refugees are women and girls, and for that reason Phoenix is home to the Refugee Women's Health Clinic of Maricopa Integrated Health Systems. Since opening its doors in 2008, the clinic has provided culturally grounded health services to 7,000 refugee women from 49 different countries. You can read my interview with the incredible woman who founded it here. (Prepare to be enlightened, amazed and inspired by her story.)
My little sidekick and I visited the clinic's headquarters a couple of weeks ago, and I am so excited to share their annual holiday drive, Holiday Angel Project, with you all. Every year the clinic collects new and gently used baby and maternity items such as cribs, diapers, clothes, toys, and more to donate to the clinic's patients during the end-of-the-year holidays.
If you live in the Phoenix Metro, you can either drop off donations or they could be picked up. If you live anywhere else, you can mail in your donations or gift cards, (write me for details!) or make monetary donations directly to maricopahealthfoundation.org/holidayangel.
The donation collection deadline is December 4, and the holiday event will take place on December 18. Email me if you'd like to help, and share with folks you think would be interested too. These are mothers and children living right here in our community, and every bit counts.
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