Love to love you, baby

You don't have to be a character in a Tennessee Williams play to rely on the kindness of strangers. At some point in our lives, we all need a little help.

Baby Love is a new project of the Greater Rochester Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) that provides Rochester-area families in need with donated clothing, bedding, and equipment for infants and children up to 4 years old.

Founder Caroline Elliott says, "Baby Love gives children the essentials they need to get off to a great start in life. Homelessness, poverty and unplanned family transitions can have a devastating impact on children during their formative years. Baby Love asks Rochester families to help each other to insure a positive future for our city."

Sure, you can have a garage sale and spend a weekend confined to a broiling hot, airless hell hole in an effort to recoup a fraction of the cost of your kid's gear. But where's the satisfaction in that?

Feel good about yourself and set a good example for your kids by donating gently used or new items in excellent condition, purchased within the last three years. Cribs must be disassembled. Financial gifts are welcome, too.

Baby Love is also interested in building community partnerships. "We're looking for corporate sponsors and reaching out to moms' groups for donations. We'd be happy to hear from organizations interested in receiving donations, as well," says Elliott, noting that many of the donations received to date have been given to families served by Alternatives for Battered Women.

To drop off a donation, have items picked up, or for more info, contact Caroline Elliott by phone at 234-0261 or by email at [email protected].