Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Sanford.
Hi Brenda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Casper, WY and lived there until 7th grade. Since then, I have lived in Colorado and Texas. I have spent more than 40 years in Utah so this is where I call home. I am married and have 3 children and 8 grandchildren. When I was young I remember one year on my birthday I went door to door collecting money for a non-profit. I never imagined that one day I would be the Chair of one. I love helping others. When my children were in elementary school and I was in the PTA I wanted them to have the same experience I had as a child and have a track and field day. I organized and ran the event and it was a great success.
Almost 5 years ago, I volunteered at Joyful Welcome. They had come to our church to do a service project which was a baby shower. I called to see how I could volunteer and was able to go in and put the layette bags together. I enjoyed it so much I continued to volunteer. About 3 years ago the Chair and Founder was going to retire due to health reasons and she was going to have to close the organization down. Not knowing or ever having run a non-profit I volunteered. That is because it does such a great service in Utah that I hated to see it not continue.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have definitely been many obstacles and challenges in running a volunteer/donation based non-profit. Money being the main one. I had to learn how to get a website, a Facebook page, and Instagram. Luckily I have been able to find people to help me and continue to find help. I am always learning how to make things better. I could not do what I do without volunteers and donations. I work with some amazing volunteers and have had many come and go over the past 3 years. They all love babies like I do. We get some amazing donations from all over, many of the items are hand made and we love seeing all the time and talent it took. We are lucky to see the joy it brings to those who bring us donations. This time last year we were being evicted from our office since it was a donated space and they wanted to rent it out. I looked and looked for someone to donate space to Joyful Welcome but was not having any luck until Pioneer Valley Medical center stepped up and found us an old Dr office that was not being used and had been empty for a few years. They have been a lifesaver to our organization. We deliver bags to their hospital and they really wanted to see us continue to serve the community.
All of us that are currently volunteering are over 65 so we definitely have some challenges with technology (website, Instagram and Facebook).
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are a 501c3 non-profit and operate by volunteers and donations. Our Mission Statement is: Through local hospitals, Joyful Welcome provides many of the essential items needed for a precious newborn baby to begin their life.
Every layette bag we assemble has a theme, meaning if we have a stuffed elephant then we try to find pj’s with elephants on them, a blanket, book, burp cloth, etc., or we do a color theme. That is why they are so fun to assemble. When we had our old office we were able to have groups come in and volunteer to put the bags together but in our current space, we do not have room to do that. We put about 20 items in each bag which are all new and are given to moms, dads, low-income families as a gift. We deliver bags to more than 8 hospitals in Utah and the social workers at those hospitals decide who is in need of them. We have heard from many of the social workers that the recipients are so happy to receive one of our bags. We get donations from all over. From a single lady who just wants to make some booties or hats to a group who does a baby shower and donates books, pj’s, blankets and other items.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.joyful-welcome.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyful_welcome/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/welcomejoyful
