The Ray of Hope Children’s Crisis and Resource Services-San Joaquin County is gearing up to help the homeless or impoverished youngsters with another donation drive.

This one’s called the Baby Boxes, servicing infants and toddlers in the south county along with those with urgent needs in north San Joaquin County.

Baby Boxes, scheduled to begin on March 21, will ask donors to fill these boxes with the basic needs.

“It doesn’t matter if they live in an apartment, car, hotel, or wherever – evey child should have those basic needs met,” said Ray of Hope Executive Director Laura Saunders, who added that a baby box will not only allow for this but will enroll infants and toddlers into her program.

Ray of Hope receives referrals from the Child Abuse Protection Agency, SJC Child Protective Services, and other local and government agencies.

Once enrolled in the program, Ray of Hope can offer up a case manager to parents as they begin the accountability and healing process while providing the resources to give there their child a healthy chance, according to Saunders.

“It’s vital that we have boxes available when we get the referrals or funds for the babies during our outreach,” she said. “The detriment to babies without adequate diapers include such things as rash, wounds, and infections to the urinary tract that can travel to the kidneys.”

Ray of Hope recently kicked off the Diaper Change fundraiser.

Several local businesses and groups are in the process of dropping off their loose change in the Baby Bottle piggy bank in an effort to raise money for the Ray of Hope Babies & toddlers program called “Seeds of Hope.”

For more information, call Ray of Hope at 209.597.0574.