A local community organization is providing new and expecting parents with resources and childcare supplies with some help from the Oak Park’s village government.
The Collaboration for Early Childhood of Oak Park and River Forest is providing free “baby bundles” to caregivers with children under two years old. People can sign up to receive the bundles online and set up a pick-up time through the collaboration’s website, or they can ask for them at the front desk of Oak Park village hall as part of a new initiative this summer.
“Village Welcome Center staff make it easy to pick up a baby or toddler bundle any time Monday through Friday during regular business hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” the village said earlier this week.
Oak Park village hall will be closed after 12 p.m. on Fridays until after Labor Day, according to the village.
The Collaboration for Early Childhood is a nonprofit group dedicated to supporting families in the region with children aged five and under as they prepare for elementary school. The bundles will contain diapers, children’s books, baby toys and resources for parents.
“We believe that by welcoming new and expecting parents with goodies and resources, they have the tools to be their child’s first and most important teacher,” the collaboration said of the program. “Each Baby Bundle includes a printed copy of our Early Childhood Resource Directory, which is a comprehensive list of local childcare, preschool, and home-based programs as well as places for little ones to create art, music, and move their bodies. “
Each bundle will also include information about resources for postpartum mental health care and a booklet the group produced about the stages of child development, according to the group.
The Collaboration for Early Childhood is also conducting a survey of Oak Park parents to help shape future family programming, according to the group. The group will raffle off 10 $100 gift cards to survey participants, the group said.