APRIL 11, 2006, FARMINGVILLE, NY –Brookhaven Supervisor Brian X. Foley said this week that the town’s Youth Bureau is trying to make sure that newborn children in Brookhaven Town get the baby shower every child deserves. The Youth Bureau is setting up drop-off points in a variety of locations around town, including Town Hall and Calabro Airport, for items to be distributed to new mothers in need.

“These young Youth Council volunteers for the Youth Bureau are reaching out to help new mothers who may not have the basic necessities to care for their newborns,” said Supervisor Foley. “This is another example of how the good employees of Brookhaven Town reach out, going beyond the call of duty to help our less fortunate residents. We want to make sure young mothers have everything they need to care for their newborn children.”

The idea for setting up the drop-off bins started with Youth Council member Keith Johnson, who felt he had to do something to help needy young mothers after reading about an abandoned newborn found in a dumpster. He came up with the idea of drop-off bins to gather everything from diapers and pacifiers to car seats and formula, and the Youth Bureau applied to the Cornell Cooperative Extension for a grant to fund the project.

Cornell granted the Youth Bureau $1,000 for the project and Keith enlisted the aid of other Youth Council volunteers to make his dream a reality. The first bin was installed Monday in the lobby at Brookhaven Town Hall in Farmingville. It is hoped that a total of 10 or 12 bins will be set up in a variety of locations around Brookhaven Town.

Among the new items being sought are diapers, diaper bags, formula, clothing, toys, rattles, play sets, bibs, car seats, high chairs, strollers, baby furniture, bottles, pacifiers, bath accessories, towels, baby baths and the like. Gently used items being sought include clothing, blankets and crib sheets. The items will be distributed through the Youth Bureau’s INTERFACE program.

For further information, call Louise Adipietro of the Youth Bureau at 451-8019.

Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6955 • Fax (631) 451-6677
www.Brookhaven.org