Statements

Mission

Strick's Gift's mission is to provide clothing to newborns in need in Nashville.

Background

Strick's Gift began in 2008 in honor of our son, Strick. Our objective is to provide clothing to vulnerable newborns. Six thousand babies are born into poverty each year in Nashville. We partner with St. Thomas Midtown Hospital, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Tri Star Centennial Women's Hospital and Nashville General at Meharry's labor and delivery social workers to reach these families. We have given over 150,000 pieces of newborn clothing to families since our work began in 2008. Each Strick's Gift bag contains 30 pieces of clothing and is delivered to the families during their stay at the hospital. Research has shown that toxic stress that comes with poverty and childbirth can be detrimental to a child's development; any help to relieve these stressors (especially with something as important as clothing) can be pivotal for the family. Our goal is to address this unnecessary stress for as many children as possible.

Impact

Strick' Gift Gift works with every hospital in Davidson County. We have surpassed 150,000 pieces of clothing given away to newborns in need in Nashville. The impact best stated by the social workers we partner with, from Vanderbilt:

"It is not unusual to meet with families who have experienced much hardship and crisis and as a result, have had difficulty preparing for the birth of their child. Being able to provide these gifts give the families a sense that someone out there has their best interest at heart. Strick's Gift does great work in the community and gives families a sense of hope with these donations. "

We have also been invited to speak at local schools and businesses and have participated in many clothing drives. We have been featured in several local magazines and newspapers (for example Faces of Nashville in Style Blueprint, Green Hills News, The Tennessean, soon to be a publication on the University of Alabama.) Also another spin off of Strick's Gift has been created in Greenville, SC (Greenville's Gift) which makes two spin offs now - the other being in Charlotte NC (Baby Bundles.)

Needs

Strick's Gift needs monetary donations to purchase baby clothing as well as donations of great condition, gently used baby clothing. We have partnered with a wholesale baby clothing company and we are able to buy 2 to 3 times the baby clothes because of the wholesale pricing. Any dollar donated to Strick's Gift is spent to purchase baby clothing. Our overhead is incredibly low - we are 100% volunteer based with donated space to work in.

CEO Statement

Strick's Gift has been in operation in Nashville since 2008.  We have been able to serve Nashville's most vulnerable population directly and well with community support - in the form of clothing donated and small monetary donations.  We have recently moved to a location that has a large storage space as well as a large, safe, easily accessed volunteer space.  As a result, Strick's Gift can finally grow its operations and reach.  What that looks like to us is simply reaching more children in need.  This year we will be pursuing larger grants, corporate sponsorships to raise money to buy new wholesale baby clothing.  With a stable inventory of clothing we can predict with more accuracy and how often we can get clothing donations to the hospitals we serve.  Currently we give donations to the hospitals as we receive donations - a reactionary, first in first out model.  However with the purchase of clothing we can serve the hospitals on a predictable and regular basis and with a higher volume of quality clothing.  We are thrilled at the opportunity and appreciate any and all financial support.  It is important to note, as pointed out to me by the acclaimed Mrs. Cheap from the Tennessean, that if we can reach these children and their families from the very beginning, we are making a long term positive impact (both emotional and tangible) in their lives as well Nashville at large.  Feel free to contact me directly to discuss.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Human Services  - Children's and Youth Services
Secondary Category:	Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy  -
Tertiary Category:	Youth Development  -

Areas Served

We serve Centennial Women's, Hospital, Vanderbilt Medical Center, St Thomas Mid Town Hospital and Nashville General at Meharry.

TN - Davidson