WSB Blog

Q&A with WestSide Baby’s New Executive Director

Q&A with WestSide Baby’s New Executive Director

News
We are thrilled to welcome WestSide Baby’s next Executive Director, Allie Lindsay Johnson. We asked her a few questions, in hopes that you can start to get to know Allie. Keep your eyes peeled for other ways to connect with Allie. What is it about WestSide Baby's mission that resonates with you? So many parents have come to depend on the incredible support system that is WestSide Baby. I know just how important a parent’s support system can be. I have a 3 year old daughter and we both experienced a lot of complications surrounding her birth. She was born 8 weeks early and my husband and I stayed in the NICU with her for 9 weeks. During that time I was hospitalized for postpartum psychosis and later I experienced…
Read More
Driven by Love: Our Car Seat Program

Driven by Love: Our Car Seat Program

Portfolio
Driven by Love: Our Car Seat Program Car Seat Accessibility WestSide Baby champions a vision of healthy, thriving and resilient families, made possible by our communal efforts to collect and distribute essential items, especially safety equipment.   Given car accidents as a leading cause in injury and death for infants and children, with child passenger death rates highest among American Indian and Alaska Native children (2.67 per 100,000 population), followed by Black children (1.96), Program Coordinator and Car Seat Technician, Jarrod Kluk, stresses the importance of car seats.   However, we recognize there are structural inequities that cause the basic needs gap to disproportionately affect communities of color. Financial factors such as inflation and job security remain a barrier for families to navigate additional expenses like car seats. When parents are forced to do…
Read More
Give Joy. Give Warmth. Give this Winter.

Give Joy. Give Warmth. Give this Winter.

Events
Brrr! While the weather’s turning gray and cool, we’re just getting warmed up. Our annual year-end campaign, Give Joy, kicks off November 1 and will run through December 31. By participating in Give Joy, you can help WestSide Baby ensure that children in our community have the basics they need, like diapers and safety equipment – and also that they have the opportunity to experience extra joy this season. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook to look out for upcoming in-person opportunities! Join us for some fun festivities! Join us for a “Sip & Sort” evening. Tour our warehouses, learn the life cycle of a donation, & process a few orders with us! Snacks & beverages will be provided.—When | Tues. December 12, 4:00 PM – 8:00 PMLocation | WestSide Baby RSVP to Sip & Sort Always…
Read More
After a Busy Summer – What’s Next?

After a Busy Summer – What’s Next?

Events
Hi to our WestSide Baby Community! What a busy summer it’s been!  We just wrapped up our From the Bottom Up campaign, our community’s largest annual diaper drive. Together, our community donated over 250,000 diapers. These diapers will be distributed to 5,000 children in the greater Seattle community. Because of an amazing foundation of support from our community, this summer we expanded our operations. We extended volunteer and donation collection hours, identified new collection sites, and continued bulk diaper distribution efforts amidst national diaper shortages. To top it off, we bolstered our leadership team with the addition of Interim Executive Director, Laura Skelton. Laura brings over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and has served as Interim Executive Director at a number of Seattle-area nonprofit organizations. I am proud to continue to support…
Read More
Public Policy Changes to End Diaper Need

Public Policy Changes to End Diaper Need

News
See Governor Jay Inslee sign SB 5187 here Diaper Subsidy Program in WA In 2022, the Washington State Legislature approved SB 5838, The End Diaper Need Act. This bill created a diaper subsidy program that increases the cash benefit by $100 per month for households with a child under the age of 3 receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or State Family Assistance. The funding is intended to assist with the cost of diapers as described in Chapter 100, Laws of 2022 (SSB 5838). The benefit increase is effective November 1, 2023. Washington’s program is based off a program in California but offers broader eligibility and will put more money directly in the hands of low-income families each month to buy diapers and wipes. This will be an automatic…
Read More
Diapers are Essential. Take Action – From the Bottom Up!

Diapers are Essential. Take Action – From the Bottom Up!

Events
Nationwide, the average cost of diapers has gone up by nearly 22% since 2018. The impact of inflation is felt acutely by families experiencing diaper need who, on a daily basis, must stretch their limited income to provide the basics for their children. Few people realize that unlike other essentials such as food or health insurance, there is no federal assistance for purchasing diapers. Learn more about the impact of diaper insecurity. "Expanded diaper access is an often-overlooked policy priority that could have significant positive benefits for families with infants and toddlers."Allie Schneider, Research Associate, & Hailey Gibbs, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for American Progress Diapers are the one item WestSide Baby guarantees to the providers we work with and the families we serve. From the Bottom Up is our…
Read More
Selfless and Joyful Service: A Dynamic Force for the Community

Selfless and Joyful Service: A Dynamic Force for the Community

News
Volunteer in the Sorting Room of First Warehouse checking on clothes “Volunteers are the heart of our organization. We truly couldn't serve the number of families we do without them. Every child that receives our items has the volunteers to thank first and foremost. We're all deeply appreciative of the work they do.” - Kristin Monahan, Site Lead Our work progresses day after day through collaborative efforts, meaningful partnerships and relationships in the community, united by a vision to equip families with essential items towards a happy and healthy life; this especially cascades through our volunteers, steeped in selflessness and service.  A dynamic force at WestSide Baby, volunteers bring inspiration , and without hesitation, dive into the often demanding and crucial projects, such as celebrating the growth of a family by curating a colorful…
Read More
Welcoming our New Executive Director!

Welcoming our New Executive Director!

News
Welcome Michelle Introducing WestSide Baby’s new Executive Director, Michelle Hankinson! Michelle brings almost 15 years in the nonprofit sector, with significant experience as an Executive Director and Director of Operations.Michelle comes to WestSide Baby most recently from Childhaven where she was the Senior Director of Early Support Services for Infants and Toddlers and Healthy Start. In this role, she executed strategic plans to advance their mission. Michelle also participated in the Childhaven Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team to ensure equitable early interventions within communities of color. She is committed to supporting children and families holistically alongside WestSide Baby. Michelle’s community describes her as “a compassionate leader with high emotional intelligence and a deep understanding of equity and inclusion.” I am so thrilled that Michelle will be joining WestSide Baby as…
Read More
Farewells & New Beginnings

Farewells & New Beginnings

News
Gratitude WestSide Baby is deeply grateful for the ways in which you showed up for children in our community in 2022! Together we responded to growing basic needs insecurity and inequity felt most acutely by under-resourced families in our community. WestSide Baby is proud to share that over 2.6 MILLION DIAPERS were distributed to over 40,000 children last year with your help and support! In the coming months, we are excited to introduce new ways to engage with our mission, so please look out for more communication from us soon! Hello + Goodbyes A Note from the Executive Director As I approach my last day as Executive Director on January 31, I wanted to thank you for being part of the WestSide Baby community. It has been an honor to…
Read More
Executive Director Transition Announcement

Executive Director Transition Announcement

News
Message from our Executive Director, Sarah Cody Roth As we share another Community Impact Report highlighting what is possible when community comes together to address inequity, it is profoundly bittersweet to share that I have decided to transition out of my role as WestSide Baby’s Executive Director on January 31, 2023. After seven years with this incredible organization, I am thrilled to step away from a thriving organization that is ready for new leadership from our community, to ground our work ever deeper in our values and commitment to equity. Since December 2015, I have been honored to work toward ensuring families have their basic needs met and their dignity honored as part of a more just world. On my first day at WestSide Baby, as Development Director, I had…
Read More