When Lisa and Eric Goldman moved to Milwaukee from the San Francisco Bay Area last summer, they had to start their lives from scratch. New friends, new neighborhood, new community.
When Lisa gave birth in November, her life changed drastically yet again. But last week, Lisa and 10-week-old Jacob received a gift that aims to ease their transition.
Susan Richheimer and Susan Angel Miller, representatives of the Shalom Baby program, visited the new mother and baby bearing a custom gift bag filled with a wealth of items and resources from 14 local synagogues and organizations.
“We want to reach out to parents and families by celebrating the birth and adoption of children in a welcoming and creative way,” said Miller, chair of the volunteer Shalom Baby committee, a project of the Women’s Division of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. “We are looking forward to sharing what’s available in our wonderful community with young Jewish families and providing them with a variety of different ways to connect.”
“This is great,” said Goldman as she bobbed back and forth, soothing baby Jacob, who lay against her chest in a baby carrier. “Especially as a transplant because … we basically came here not knowing anyone. To have someone put together some resources for us is a big help.”
Plus, “Having someone come to the house is nice,” she added.
That’s the idea, and volunteer Richheimer, mother to four-month-old Gabe, is enthusiastic about it.
“This makes [part of] being a new mom a no-brainer. I’m so happy to be a part of it,” she said.
The gift bag itself evoked “oohs” and “aahs” as Goldstein, Richheimer and Miller explored its contents. A sippy cup, a t-shirt, a CD and a cassette of Jewish music for children, a list of babysitters, gift certificates and the community directory published by The Chronicle are a sampling of the gifts included. There are currently 19 items, but the list is still growing.
The Shalom Baby program, though new to Milwaukee, has been successfully implemented in other Jewish communities across the country, Miller said. And when the idea was raised here, people got excited.
“This really struck a chord with the volunteers and community,” said Miller, who chairs the 14-member committee. “We sent a letter to the Jewish organizations in town and got a really great response,” she said.
“I think it’s a great way for the Women’s Division to reach out at a time when women are at a transition in their lives when they’ve either stopped working or are continuing to work and trying to juggle their work life and family life. It’s a great way to connect with other moms, to meet with them and to give them guidance on available services,” Miller said.
Richheimer sees long-term value in the program. “I really think you establish long-term relationships through your children,” she said.
The gift bags are intended for parents of all new babies, not just first babies, explained Miller. “The challenge is to find the unaffiliated; we’re looking to reach out to all, not only those who are already using the community,” she said.
To spread the word, the committee is distributing brochures at hospitals, doctor’s offices, with mohels and at local synagogues and Jewish organizations, said Evy Garfinkel, Women’s Division director.
“The brochures contain a reply card and envelope so that mothers can let us know they are interested,” she explained. “Volunteers will call new parents to set up an appointment to deliver the gift bag.”
The Shalom Baby program is supported by a grant from the Tikkun Olam Foundation, a private family foundation in Milwaukee.
For more information, contact the Women’s Division at 414-390-5700.
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