One of the best things anyone can do for a little pick me up is doing some good. It’s true. It puts you in a better mood, you feel connected to a community, and it helps understand the meaning behind serving. Our editor-in-chief, Erika De La Cruz, a”do-gooder” by nature ( at least we think so), was so excited to set aside time out of her usual Thursday schedule to attend one of the best LA based non-profits in the nation – Baby2Baby. This organization provides children living in poverty with diapers, clothing, and all the basic necessities that every child deserves. The cherry on top to this invite only volunteer sesh was that fashion powerhouse brand, St. John, along with celebrity stylist Karla Welch, put together this session for their stylish friends, family and co-workers, proving that maybe it’s not always about the clothes we wear, but what we choose to do by wearing them. Oh yes, there were some great fashion moments by everyone while they were packing up essentials. Erika herself chose a chic black pant and tank foundation and accented it with a neutral blazer, gold jewels, and her Prada bucket bag.
WHO:
Guests came together at the Baby2Baby Culver City HQ which was decked out in festive balloons, seasonal pumpkins, and of course , boxes of essentials that were ready to be shipped out. St. John Global CEO Andy Lew was there along with Baby2Baby co-founder Kelly Sawyer, Karla Welch, and some recognizable names like Michelle Monaghan, Katherine McPhee-Foster, This is About Humanity co-founder Zoe Winkler, fashion stylist and influencer Chriselle Lim, plus more St. John team members, fashion leaders, bloggers, media personnel and photographers.
Andy was thrilled that his St. John team could come together to support an incredible mission. As we know, St. John is known for their timeless staples and versatile knit dresses. In Andy’s supportive post on IG, he hash tagged “knitted together,” a gentle reminder that, yes, we are all fashionably in this together ….helping others and serving our community.
WHAT:
Upon arrival, guests fueled up with coffee by Always Kind (their lavender latte was delicious!) before assembling packing kits with emergency supplies for families impacted by natural disasters and newborn and maternal care kits filled with diapers and warm clothing items for children in need ahead of the winter season. The day kicked off with a brief introduction by Baby2Baby’s co-founder Kelly Sawyer, the volunteers arrived to their designated stations. Erika began at the Newborn and Maternal station, where she packed a huge laundry bag full of newborn diapers, onesies, grooming essentials plus maternal essentials like perineal wash and nursing pads. Everyone rotated stations too. There was a Hygiene Kit assembly line which included The Period Company underwear, plus a moment to write down a personal affirmation for the recipient ( it was Erika’s favorite thing to do!), an Infant Essentials station where Erika packed larger diapers, bibs and blankets. Then there was a refugee and natural disaster essentials line, where Erika packed blankets and Build-A-Bear bears for kids who need a dose of extra hugs and love during a trying time.
WHY:
Besides providing timeless luxury staples, St. John is committed to furthering the Baby2Baby mission. The nonprofit is laser focused on annually reaching one million children with kits and essentials. They rely on volunteer sessions like this one to help pack kits and get these basic necessities to families as fast as they can. Erika learned that from this 2 hour volunteer session Baby2Baby will be able to provide over 4,000 families with kits and goods. WOW! So amazing. If you’re reading this, we encourage everyone to try a volunteer session at Baby2Baby. It was a truly life changing moment knowing the impact you can make just from packing baby items. We also encourage you to support Baby2Baby’s mission by always donating. Here is where you can donate and get more information about their cause. See more photos of our do good, fashionable event below.
Some images provided by Danielle Cardelfe
