WithinReach

Every family deserves support from the very start. 💜

Preparing for a newborn is a beautiful time, but it can also feel like a race against the clock. For new parents, securing the basics—like diapers, wipes, and health resources—shouldn't be a source of stress during those first few vulnerable weeks postpartum.

As we wrap up Maternal Mental Health Month this May, we are reminded that taking care of a parent’s mental well-being starts with meeting their foundational needs. Reducing the stress of everyday essentials allows new parents to focus on healing, bonding, and thriving.

That’s why the Help Me Grow Washington team at WithinReach recently hosted two packing parties to assemble 100 pregnancy and postpartum support packs! 📦✨

These packs are filled with high-quality, parent-vetted essentials (including diapers, oral health kits, a gift card for flexibility, and a custom hooded towel!). They are currently being boxed and mailed, with all of them heading out the door and straight to families' doorsteps by the end of May.

We are incredibly grateful for the funding that made this possible, and for the incredible collaboration of our partners who helped expand this initiative's reach in their local communities.

As Kate Agyei Yeboah, our Help Me Grow WA Perinatal Partnership Manager, beautifully put it: “Sending these high-quality, practical essentials straight to a parent's doorstep isn't just about giving them supplies; it’s about telling them, 'We see you, we care about you, and you are not doing this alone.'”

Want to see what goes into supporting a family from day one? Read the full story on our blog! 👇
https://withinreachwa.org/every-family-deserves-support-from-the-very-start

Wondering about the difference between Basic Food/SNAP and WIC?

✅ WIC supports pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding individuals, infants, and children under 5 with healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals.
✅ Basic Food (SNAP) helps individuals and families buy groceries and stretch their food budget each month.

Some families qualify for both programs, helping make nutritious food more accessible during pregnancy, postpartum, and early childhood.

In 2024, WIC served 41% of infants in the U.S., while SNAP supports about 42 million people nationwide.

Questions about applying or where to start? The Help Me Grow Washington hotline is here to help: 1-800-322-2588.

Who gets to eat tonight? 🍽️

Across Washington, parents are making impossible choices every day—stretching meals, skipping food, and doing everything they can to protect their kids from going hungry.

At WithinReach, we connect families to programs like SNAP, WIC, and local food resources so they don’t have to navigate these challenges alone. 🤝 And just as importantly, we provide a real person to talk to when the system feels overwhelming.

📢 Tomorrow, we’re launching our STAND UP STAND STRONG for Washington Families campaign to expand this work and reach more families across the state.

Today, we simply wanted to share why it matters.

Because every family deserves access to the food they need—without fear, confusion, or impossible questions. 💜

More tomorrow.

We are so proud to partner with the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) to bring the "art of the referral" into the exam room. By weaving healthcare together with the Help Me Grow Washington network, we’re ensuring that when a provider sees a family in need, they have a trusted partner to help them navigate Basic Food (SNAP), WIC, and local food resources.

When we bridge the gap between the clinic and the community, Washington families thrive. 🤝

🔗 Read more and see how your clinic can get involved: https://withinreachwa.org/how-were-partnering-with-physicians-to-tackle-food-insecurity

This , we’re feeling especially grateful for the people who show up—again and again—for Washington families. 💜

Your time, your care, and your commitment make it possible for families to find the resources they need, when they need them most. Because of you, moments of connection, relief, and stability are happening every day.

We see you. We appreciate you. And we’re so thankful to be in this work together.