TPP Founder Laura Aker
with Kaden Hood

About

History

The Preemie Project was conceived in the spring of 2005 by Coralville, Iowa native, Laura Pabich (Aker). Laura wanted to use her passion for knitting to help others, and after a suggestion from her mother decided to knit booties for the local children’s hospital, University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Laura summoned individuals on blogs, online message boards, and email lists to join her in knitting and crocheting for premature and critically ill patients. From those invitations, The Preemie Project was born.

The Iowa chapter of The Preemie Project made its first donation of hats, booties, and blankets to the UIHC neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in August of 2005. Through the support of volunteers from Iowa, across the nation and beyond, the group began making regular donations to the UIHC. Each donation, made every few months, includes handmade items such as hats, booties, and blankets. In addition, the group provides bereavement clothing and items of remembrance to grieving families who have suffered a loss. To date, the Iowa chapter has received donations from over 250 volunteers totaling over 1,700 hat and bootie sets, over 1,500 blankets, and 300 bereavement packages.

The Iowa chapter has expanded from that first donation, and now provides support to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The expansion has also included providing baby clothing, toiletries, and other personal items to families of these newborn who have financial challenges. These donations are made to the Social Services coordinator who provides them to families as they are leaving the hospital.