A Special Valentine’s Day Delivery to the Saint Francis Maternity Unit
February 20, 2024Categories: Colleague Corner
Gretchen McInvale, a former kindergarten teacher from Portland, has been delivering Valentine’s Day gifts to the Saint Francis Maternity Unit for 36 years. Up until her retirement four years ago, Gretchen’s deliveries were a field trip with her class, but she has continued the tradition to help, in her own words, “spread the love.”
“Valentine’s Day is a day of love,” said Gretchen. “I always shared with my kindergarteners that it is a day for spreading love, and that is why I continue to do it.”
On Valentine’s Day, Gretchen dropped off 30 gift bags that contained a handmade crocheted blanket and hat from her dear friend Roberta Ritchie, as well as a receiving blanket, outfit, socks, and other necessities for newborns. In addition, a former teaching colleague donated a book for each gift bag. After having a grandchild born prematurely last year, Gretchen decided to also include six bags this year for preemie babies in the Saint Francis NICU.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to meet with Gretchen year after year on Valentine’s Day for her extremely generous donation of gifts for our tiniest humans,” said Judy Hill, MSN, RN, C-EFM, Nursing Director for the Women and Infants Service Line. “It gives colleagues on the Maternity and NICU units such joy to be able to ‘spread the love’ of Gretchen’s generosity with families in need.”
Gretchen manages the donations through her Keep a Baby Warm non-profit organization, which is dedicated to providing warm clothing to newborns, regardless of socioeconomic standing.