ST. LOUIS, March 4, 2013 – While the area’s infant mortality rate – which stands at 11 deaths per 1,000 births in St. Louis City, and 7 deaths per 1,000 births in St. Louis County -- has declined slightly in recent years, it is still much higher than the national average (6.1) and the statewide rates for Missouri (6.6) and Illinois (6.8)*.
To help fight infant mortality throughout the St. Louis region, Ashley Furniture HomeStore is launching a campaign this week and next to collect diapers, baby formula and monetary donations at its area stores for St. Louis-based Nurses for Newborns, which provides a safety net for at-risk families to help prevent infant mortality, child abuse and neglect.
“The organization is helping to save the lives of babies,” said Michael Phillips, co-owner and vice president of Ashley Furniture HomeStore/St. Louis. “Nurses for Newborns provides in-home nursing visits to promote healthcare, education, positive parenting skills, and infant medical care across 20 Missouri counties.”
Area residents and businesses are invited to donate and drop off baby diapers and formula at the six area Ashley Furniture HomeStore locations from Wednesday, March 6, through Monday, March 18. Phillips said there also will be in-store discounts for customers who donate diapers and formula during the campaign period. All donations will be accepted during store hours, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; and, Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m.
Additionally, Ashley Furniture HomeStore designers at each of the stores will be decorating baby nurseries in-store, and inviting area residents to vote on their favorite nursery design. They can cast their ballots in the stores or on Ashley Furniture HomeStore’s FaceBook site through midnight March 18.
Phillips said Ashley Furniture HomeStore has raised more than $62,000 for Nurses for Newborns and has collected countless diapers and formula the past six years. Ashley Furniture HomeStore locations are:
Florissant, Missouri
2409 N Highway 67
Florissant MO, USA 63033
O Fallon, Missouri
2331 Hwy K
O Fallon MO, USA 63366
South St. Louis County
4432 Lemay Ferry Rd
St Louis MO, USA 63129
West St. Louis County
14101 Manchester Rd
St Louis MO, USA 63011
Edwardsville
6609 Edwardsville Crossing
Edwardsville, IL 62025
Shiloh
3700 Green Mt Crossing
Shiloh, IL 62269
(* -- Local, state and national rates were provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the St. Louis Maternal, Child and Family Health Coalition.)
