Acts of Kindness - Ohio

Organization: Touching Little Lives

Margie Cox
10 years ago, just a few weeks after I became a Cintas partner, my grandson was born at 24 weeks gestation, weighing only 1 pound 9 ounces. It was a stressful time, with Ethan suffering from most of the things micro-preemies generally get. He was 2-3 months old before he was able to be held by his parents and grandparents. His mother read in the literature she was given that being able to dress their babies in clothes that fit helped mother and baby to bond, and gave the mother a sense of normalcy. She asked me to find something for Ethan and I began looking online after discovering that clothing in the local stores marked preemie were really too big, sometimes newborn size. I couldn't believe the prices online for preemies that would fit! One tee was $8.95, one sleeper was $19.99! Having done a lot of sewing in the past, I went looking for patterns and found an organization that made and donated clothing for preemies that fit for free.

That was the beginning of my involvement with Touching Little Lives. Touching Little Lives has over 1000 volunteers in Ohio with groups in the Cincinnati and Columbus areas. Today I am a board member and Regional Coordinator for the Cincinnati area with 2 workgroups located in Milford and West Chester. We make and donate free of charge quilts, blankets, tee, sleepers, hats, booties, afghans, burial layettes, etc. to preemie and needy babies in Ohio. We serve Good Sam, University, Bethesda, Fairfield Mercy, Middletown Atrium hospitals and recently Children's hospital, as well as other different agencies such as Pregnancy Center of Clermont County and Warren County Prenatal Clinic. No volunteer is paid for their time and we depend entirely on donations. We have even used Cintas shirts to make our sleepers and onesies and tees! Please check us at our website www.touchinglittlelives.org.

Organization: Locks of Love


Holly Burkhardt
I recently donated a 14 inch ponytail to Locks of Love. This organization provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children who suffer from long-term hair loss. I would like to encourage other partners to donate their hair. Please check the Locks of Love website at www.locksoflove.org for donation information.