A Look Back at 2011

Happy New Year! 2011 was a year of wonderful stepping stones for Love Bug Bundles, and we are looking forward to taking leaps and bounds in 2012. Now for a little retrospective...

Our Giving

Thanks to your generosity, we donated 51 new infant bath tubs, more than 2,500 pieces of gently used infant clothing, and hundreds of other basic necessities, such as new infant clothing, toiletries, wash cloths, Lansinoh cream, baby wipes, and diaper bags to Houston families. We are hopeful that this year will bring many more opportunities to share as much love as we can with those who need it most.

Our Growth

As an organization that started as a personal charity project, we achieved a major milestone this year...we became an official non-profit corporation. Jessica Morrison, an associate at the Austin-based law firm Thompson & Knight LLP, volunteered to help us pro bono. Jessica's commitment, diligence, enthusiasm, and kindness helped us navigate the process of becoming a non-profit corporation in the state of Texas and obtaining 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status. We are truly grateful for Jessica's support in this transformational step toward fulfilling the Love Bug Bundles mission.

Our Joy

With love and gratitude, we welcomed our third love bug, Evangeline Sejal, born on September 9, 2011. Our first love bug, Micah, will be four in January; and our second love bug, Isabel, will be two in February. As we also prepare to celebrate the 4th anniversary of Love Bug Bundles in March, we are amazed by how we have grown as an organization and as a family.

Our Gratitude

We are humbled by every donation, large or small. Every little thing matters. We sincerely thank you for every item you donated, whether it was an infant bath tub, wash cloths, bath wash, diapers, baby wipes, clothing, a diaper bag, or breast pump. Thank you also to those who gave monetary donations...every dollar matters.

Our Hope

2012 promises to be our best year yet! We are grateful for the support you have given at our past events and look forward to creating new events that will become Love Bug traditions. "Love" is in our name because it's at the heart of our mission. We'll be sending details on a Valentine's Day event soon!

Here's to you! May hope, joy, peace, and LOVE be yours!

Shop Our New Charity Store

We are proud to announce the opening of our Zazzle store, a place to purchase official Love Bug Bundles swag. Today we are unveiling the first design, the "xoxo" burnout women's t-shirt.

100% of the profit we receive from the sale of our merchandise benefits mothers and newborns in need. Show your love today!

Visit our Zazzle Store now and check back often for new items!

Announcing FAIR DAY 2011

We can hardly believe that a year has passed since we hosted our 1st Annual FAIR DAY Picnic & Diaper Drive. The event was conceived with one wish: 10,000 diapers. Your love delivered: 13,408 diapers!

In addition to your Texas-sized generosity, y'all gave us some great advice...host FAIR DAY in a cooler month. We heard you! The 2nd Annual FAIR DAY Picnic & Diaper Drive will be held in November 2011. Details coming soon...stay tuned on Facebook.

p.s. We want the 2nd Annual FAIR DAY Picnic & Diaper Drive to bigger and better than the first. Please let us know if you, your family, or your business can share some love with venue, raffle prizes, refreshments, entertainment, or other forms of sponsorship. We love to support our supporters, so we'll be bragging about you on our blog, Facebook, and anywhere we can.

Showered with Love

In April, the Bellaire Young Mothers dedicated their annual spring baby shower to Love Bug Bundles for the second time. The "Rub-a-Dub-Dub" Baby Shower built on last year's successful infant bath tub drive, providing an exciting opportunity to help mothers and their newborns start their lives together in positive ways.

As all mothers know, bonding with your newborn is essential. Daily activities such as bath time provide some of the greatest opportunities to focus on a new little one. You will never know just how much you give a mother when you take away some of the worry.

This year's drive raised 27 infant bath tubs, as well as a collection of bath time amenities and wash cloths.

Thanks again to all the Bellaire Young Mothers for being a moms who care about other moms!

SAVE THE DATE! June 5: First Annual FAIR DAY Picnic & Diaper Drive

Love Bug Bundles has been blessed to receive tremendous support from family, friends, and community members during the past two years. We want to celebrate your role in our growth as an organization with The 1st Annual Love Bug Bundles FAIR DAY Picnic & Diaper Drive.

So, please save the date for SATURDAY, JUNE 5 and tell all of your friends and family!

We look forward to the opportunity to get to know each of you better and collect a necessity for babies... diapers. We were startled to learn that no state assistance provides subsidies for diapers. Low-income families in our community often have to choose between diapers and other essentials, such as healthy food.

OUR GOAL: Collect 10,000 DIAPERS!

Love Bug Bundles cannot thank you enough for your generous support. We believe in serving our community by caring about our neighbors' well-being and doing some good wherever we can. We're glad you have chosen to be a part of this cause too!

Every little thing you do really matters!

2010 Events

This is going to be a great year! As we mark our second anniversary in March 2010, we have many exciting things to share with you. Be the first to know by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

Upcoming Events:
February 12: Baby Shower at Magnolia
March 2: Baby Shower at Spring Branch
April 8: Baby Shower at Lee High School

April 9: Baby Shower at Magnolia
April 24: Bellaire Young Mothers Baby Shower (baby gift drive)

4.24.10 Moms Helping Moms

I love the idea of women helping women. For centuries, women the whole world over have formed a sisterhood that helps shape the society around them. When women are empowered, families and communities thrive.

As a new member of Bellaire Young Mothers, I am humbled and honored that the service committee created baby registries benefitting Love Bug Bundles as a way to observe National Volunteer Week April 18-24. Culminating with an open house brunch, this "baby shower" will touch so many other Houston mothers and children in a positive way.

12.12.09 Love. Give. Crop.

Wrap up all your holiday projects before the New Year…and give to a special cause!

On December 12, Love Bug Bundles will be hosting an all-day crop at By Design Scrapbook Boutique for $10, as well as a charity auction. All of the proceeds go toward providing essential baby items to low-income mothers in the Houston area. Every little item truly means the world to these families.

We also invite you to drop off new and gently used baby items at By Design any time before December 12. A donation bin will be available to collect:
• Receiving Blankets (neutral colors)
• Newborn and 0-3 Month Clothing (neutral colors)
• Wash Cloths
• Diapers
• Infant Bathtubs

(Click to Enlarge Image)

About Love Bug Bundles
Founded in March 2008, the mission of Love Bug Bundles is to support mothers in need and make each newborn’s introduction to the world one complete with basic necessities that promote safety and well-being. In Texas, 25% of children live in poverty and 1 in 10 children lives in extreme poverty. As a major urban center, Houston is home to many of these children. Our programs improve outcomes for these families by providing education and resources that help alleviate the stress of poverty and prevent family crisis.

11.25.09 Launch Party

Join us for our official launch party! As we celebrate our growth, we invite you to learn more, donate, volunteer, or simply offer moral support. Please come and enjoy your first drink free on us, munch on appetizers, and mingle.

We hope you will participate in the charity raffle. You have 7 chances to win more than $200 in prizes donated by some of the best eateries in The Village. Just 10 tickets will provide one mother and baby with a love bug bundle.

We are an entirely volunteer-run organization, and you'll have a chance to meet our founder and the newly formed board. We hope you can join us for the first of many great events and appreciate your support this organization as we grow.