one by one®: Project Sweet Peas
Project Sweet Peas is a nationwide organization dedicated to empowering and supporting families of infants undergoing care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and inspiring hope through remembrance for families who’ve experienced the loss of a newborn. The nonprofit was launched by three women—Corin Nava, Kate Crawford and Stephanie Olivarez—who were drawn together by similar challenging experiences. Each had an infant diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia and wanted to take action to help others in similar situations.
What began as a small project to provide gift bags for families has now grown into a coast-to-coast effort with more than 100 volunteers scattered across the United States. “We serve over 25,000 families annually,” said Corin Nava, co-founder and executive director.
Wide array of care services
Their initial effort has grown into so much more than the assembling of packages. Rhode Island-based Project Sweet Peas now offers NICU journaling workshops, food and fuel assistance, a breast-pump program, memory boxes, peer support, mental health resources and much more.
Distributing care packages remains the core of the program. Each package includes items selected for both the parent and child to assist with bonding and can also be purchased through the Project Sweet Peas website. Options are available for twins and triplets as well. There’s also a NICU essentials kit available to families upon request.
Grant provides items for care packages
Project Sweet Peas used a one by one grant to purchase tumblers that were added to care packages for families. The idea is for the tumblers to be used by families sitting at the bedside of a hospitalized child, often for long hours. Nava said some hospitals have rules about food and drink, so it’s helpful that the tumblers have a covered lid.
September is NICU Awareness Month. In recognition, Project Sweet Peas donated 4,000 care packages, including the branded tumblers, to families nationwide.
Nava said the grant was a way for the nonprofit to improve the packages they distribute and raise visibility. “Opportunities like this are very important,” she said. “We are fortunate enough to get some grants and get some community support, but every dollar makes a difference.”
A note from Cheryl
Team members at Project Sweet Peas are dedicated to showing support and compassion for families enduring heart-wrenching challenges. We were pleased to play a small role in carrying out that mission by providing items for care packages to deliver to those families. If you’re interested in a one by one grant, visit onebyone.4imprint.com.