Sunday, April 2, 2006 In the Review Journal Lullaby Connection gathers items for needy babies Clothing, strollers, car seats, diapers and other necessities are given to families or foster homes By COREY LEVITAN REVIEW-JOURNAL The Lullaby Connection, a community outreach program getting baby necessities to the underprivileged, has opened its first office. "There are babies out there who really need your help," says The Lullaby Connection Executive Director Darla Hayden, a former University Medical Center volunteer. "Five-hundred babies are born every month in the Las Vegas Valley with no provisions made for them. Some of them go home with their biological families, some go to foster care and some go to agencies like Child Haven. "But all of them need something to get started in life." Each month, The Lullaby Connection's eight volunteers provide new and gently used baby clothing, strollers, car seats and diapers to approximately 150 local families with newborns. (Since the nonprofit's 2001 inception, more than 7,000 of its layettes, or baby care packages, have gone to Southern Nevada social-service agencies.) "Previously, we operated out of my garage," says Hayden, a stay-at-home mom and University of Phoenix student. "We kind of outgrew that and we've been looking for an opportunity to spread our wings." The Lullaby Connection's office -- at 769 Middlegate St. in Henderson -- was donated by Clark County Wholesale, an automotive parts company owned by Hayden's husband, Mike. "He bought a new building and really didn't need all the room," Hayden says. The 6,000-square-foot warehouse also features a community room available to other charities needing space. (Currently, Spread the Word Nevada, the nonprofit literacy group, uses it on Monday nights to clean and prepare books to distribute to school reading programs.) The Lullaby Connection is accepting donations of baby items from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, and at other times by appointment. Recipients must be referred by one of the following organizations: Child Haven, Family to Family, or the Clark County Health District. For more information, call 521-1061 or go to www.lullabyconnection.org Originally Printed in: The Review Journal on Apr 2,2006 http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-02-Sun-2006/living/6431900.html