Family Picnic and Diaper Drive Wrap-up

Thank you to all the families who made our first JDA activity of the year a huge success. It was fun to see all of the new families and we look foward to getting to know everyone better through our upcoming activities and service projects. Our next activity will be posted here shortly.

Congratualtions to the winners of the Diaper Drive Raffle, which were announced at the Picnic: The Bassham Family won the first place prize of a 1 hour massage and The Steele Family won the second place prize of a half hour rejuvenating treatment.

Below is a letter to all of you who participated in the raffle:

Dear participants in the diaper drive-

Not very many of us have had or ever will have the experience of three babies arriving all at once. As you might imagine though, and for many various reasons, the triplet arrival for Mike (who is a third year dental student) and Tamara Gilman has put on enormous strain on their family. In March of this year, they had their lives turned upside down by the news that their new little arrival was actually going to be three new arrivals. A move, bedrest, constant visitors, all sorts of issues and seven months later, Paxton, Aubrey and Karlie Gilman were born at Loma Linda hospital. They remain there now in the NICU as their parents eagerly await the day that they are healthy and stable enough to come home.

Recently, the Loma Linda JDA organization solicited the support of the community on behalf of this wonderful family in what we called a "diaper drive." For the past few weeks, donations ranging from boxes of diapers, to clothes, cash and high chairs has poured into the school for these new babies. We knew when we asked for people to rally around this family that their friends and fellow students would willingly give whatever they could to help them out; we were not, however, aware that complete strangers would be so generous. The support from the community has been overwhelming, and has greatly helped Mike and Tamara as they continue to navigate this difficult and awesome time of their lives. On their behalf, JDA wishes to offer a heartfelt thank you for your true support of and generous donations to this family.

Thank you, thank you!

Sincerely,

The Loma Linda JDA Officers