The Tacoma Police Department and its community partners are preparing again to gift parents and families at St. Joseph Hospital’s Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Donated items are being accepted for this expression of love and care for the tiny NICU babies and their loved ones, and you can find the wish list below.

Organized by Tacoma Police Community Engagement Senior Manager Bervin Smith, he enlists the support of attorney Liz Johnson to spearhead the giveaways. This isn’t the first time for it either. This past April, an army of helpers went to St. Joseph with all kinds of things to help bring a bit of happiness to the NICU parents and caregivers and the appreciation can be seen in their smiles and words of gratitude. The Tacoma Weekly was there and give this report.

Here is the wish list Johnson shared:

Insulated lunch bags

Ice packs

Hairbrushes

Toothbrushes

Toothpaste

Hair ties

Snack bars

Flavored water packets

Baby books

ORCA cards

Journals

Gift cards (including for Door Dash, Uber Eats)

Clear/small plastic pouch (like a pencil bag size for toothbrush, hygiene items)

Blankets

Baby toys

To order any of these items from Amazon for deliver to a volunteer, go to: https://www.amazon.com/hz/ wishlist/ls/2IM7R6CLVTJFD?ref_ =wl_share.

Items not purchased through Amazon can be dropped off at Johnson’s office: Liz Ann Johnson Elder Law, 6711 Regents Blvd., Suite A, University Place, WA 98466. Hours there are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Johnson asks to please drop items off by July 29 at 3 p.m. For additional info or questions, call (253) 340-2193.

Generous local businesses have already donated including movie tickets from The Grand Cinema and a gift card from the Lobster Shop.

“Some of these families are at the NICU for months so it’s great if they can go out for minute,” Johnson said. “Reconnecting and getting out of the hospital for a while is really nice for them.”

 

Liz Johnson will lead a visit the NICU on July 30 at 1 p.m. to present the gifts. The community is welcome to bring donations then as well.

Macy Senat, an NICU Parent Advocate at St. Joseph, explained how the gifts are distributed once Johnson and her team take them to the hospital.

“How we dole things out is by rooms. We’ll take a bag to each parent that comes through the NICU, and we’ll place items in the parent lounge and that’s open 24 hours, so parents are able to come in, refresh, and recoup from the day or night. All of it will be used and it goes pretty quickly,” Senat said.

“It’s so wonderful that we have the opportunity to get these items, and it’s not just about the items but also the support from the community.”