Women's Methodist NICU fundraiser for families!

Hello! My name is Nikki Csipkes, and I'm the mom of almost 9 year old twins. Once upon a time, my water broke 4.5 weeks early and we landed in the NICU for 17 days during the holiday season. We went home on New Year's Eve. It is a big change for parents to have a baby (or babies), let alone be in the NICU, traveling from home to hospital on a daily basis, AND being there on Christmas!

When we were in the hospital, we received a gift basket with a stuffed bear and book "On the Night you were Born" by Nancy Tillman. There was no note, but the gesture moved me so much that when the twins turned one, we started our own donations, starting with books for every family in the NICU on Christmas. Then, I happened upon an event on facebook of someone else gathering donations for the NICU...and after messaging her, discovered that person was Casey Vaughan, mother of a NICU baby, AND the person who had donated the baskets that we received in 2013! After that, we teamed up and have been continuing the gifts each year.

We have been able to fundraise thousands each year to donate a HyVee gas gift card, a book, and a card to every family in the NICU on Christmas. We also gather donations of snacks for the staff lounge because the staff there is amazing. We'd love to be able to donate the same to all 50 families in the NICU this holiday season. Donating $5 purchases a book, $25 goes towards a gift card, anything helps and I know (first hand) how grateful families are for the generosity the community provides. Thank you so much for considering this fundraiser that will bring light to many families in the hospital with their precious newborns on Christmas!

-Nikki