The History of Stork’s Nest
In 1969, Epsilon Zeta Chapter in Atlanta, Georgia, answered the call of the local March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation to participate in its service project, Better Infant Births (BIB), a highly successful program sponsored by the Fulton-DeKalb-Clayton Chapter of the March of Dimes. Zeta’s participation in a segment of the BIB program became known as ZIP (Zeta’s Involvement Program). Because of the community’s need for motivating pregnant women to seek early prenatal care, the Zeta chapter opened a shop in the spring of 1971 to provide infant clothing for needy mother who attended prenatal classes. The chapter gave indigent, pregnant women a layette in which to dress their babies to carry them home from the hospital. The layette was offered as an incentive to any woman who regularly attended a prenatal clinic during the last six months of her pregnancy. It served to encourage these women to get prenatal care and increase the chances of a healthy baby.
At that time, women were still inclined to use washable diapers, and so a package of these diapers was included as a part of the layette along with baby shirts, a gown, a “belly band”, baby powder and other basics. Experience had shown that very often these women went to the county hospital or any other facility provided for them by welfare. When it was time to take the baby home, they just wrapped the child in a blanket because that was all they had.
The chapter chose to name the project “Stork’s Nest”. In conjunction with the Nest, a thrift shop which was open to the public, generated funds for the project through the sale of clothing, household items and supplies of various kinds.
The success of the Atlanta Stork’s Nest was so overwhelming that Zeta’s national director of projects, Lullelia Harrison, visited Atlanta to evaluate the possibility of duplicating the project in other areas. Impressed by what she found, Lullelia endorsed the idea and recommended to Grand Basileus Herson that it be presented to the board. At the Board’s recommendation, the project was adopted as the national project of the sorority at the 1972 boule′ and become a cooperative project with the March of Dimes. Immediately a structured plan was sent to all graduate chapters of Zeta, urging the establishment of a Nest in their city. By 1973, the project had been embraced by chapters across the country from California to Massachusetts.
While Atlanta opened the first Stork’s Nest, Lambda Zeta Chapter in Houston, Texas, opened the first chartered project in 1972. It is interesting to note that in 1973, when Lullelia celebrated he 40th wedding anniversary with a well-attended event at Sylvan Beach Pavilion in Galveston, Texas, she suggested to her husband that they ”feather” the Stork’s nest by asking guests to bring items for the project. The result was tables stacked with layette items, enough to fill the shelves. The following year, life members of Lambda Zeta gave a shower for the Nest and the Houston project was off to a good start. The chapter presently sponsors three Nests, one of which is managed and supported by the Houston Amicae.
The project was embraced enthusiastically by large and small chapters in every section of the country. Approximately 50 locations were opened in the next two years. Over the next 20 years more than 100 locations were established. Many chapters have since opened a second nest.
Interest in the project was strengthened during the term of the next grand Basileus, Janice Kissner. Janice was serving as director of community affairs for the March of Dimes, and she traveled over the country as a part of her job. In almost every location she visited, there was a Zeta chapter, so it was quite appropriate that, as she went about the work of the March of Dimes, she would visit Stork’s Nests or encourage Stork’s Nest projects as a good activity for that community. With the emphasis placed on the Stork’s Nest project during the Herson and Kissner administrations, it was well developed and established for the future. It became a project like no other which Zeta had previously sponsored, and it has given the sorority great visibility nationally and is doing an unusual service for the needy women, especially women of color.
In later years, an educational component was added to the Stork’s Nest’s operation. It includes classes for mothers in areas that will enable them to care for their children.
The sorority encourages women to make items to help keep the cost of layettes down. When the first Nests were organized, a layette could be assembled for $5 or $6. Now the cost of the same items is closer to $50. Mothers prefer disposable diapers and are reluctant to accept cloth, even though they are less expensive.
Annually, some chapters sponsor “showers” for the Nests, and the community responds with items for the Nest or thrift shop. March of Dimes senior stores and Jewish women’s organizations have made items for layettes using worn sheets, pillow cases, towels and scrap materials. The 20th anniversary of the Fort Worth, Texas, Stork’s Nest, the second to open with a national charter, recognized Basileus Eloise Pyles, who worked tirelessly making items for the Nest.
Some of the Stork’s Nest are housed in medical facilities and a number are in chapter-owned facilities. However, the majority are located in churches which have donated space. In some instances, the nests are considered so permanent apart of the church’s mission, that the chapters have been granted rider status for insurance coverage.
Most Nests are open only on weekends by appointment or for limited hours because they are operated by Zetas who are employed during the week.
This project, adopted by the sorority and put into operation by chapters over the country, has grown to include approximately 108 locations across the continental United States extending from Tacoma, Washington to Boston, Massachusetts. In fact, the four corners of the nation can boast of having Stork’s Nests operated by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Since the first project, each grand basileus has included the Stork’s Nest as a vital part of her programmatic thrust. Edith Francis emphasized the educational component and initiated the monitoring of the project. Eunice Thomas established a Stork’s Nest Charity Fund to enable the sorority to accept grants and tax exempt donations.
Other organizations have expressed interest in establishing Stork’s Nest in cooperation with Zeta and, while Zeta does not have an exclusive claim to the Stork’s Nest project, perhaps there will be a mechanism to establish Zeta as the authority for the establishment, organization and activity of Stork’s Nests. This project holds promise of international acceptance because of the importance of caring for children before they are born. The escalating health problems of children in these times place even more emphasis on the need for adequate prenatal care.
Stork’s Nests are visible over the nation and are continuing to expand their services to the needy. The March of Dimes considers the Stork’s Nest program one of its far-reaching cooperative projects.
Stork’s Nest is celebrating 40 years of success. There are currently 138 active Stork’s Nests across the United States. The executive director of Stork’s Nest is Evelyn Brown of Atlanta, Georgia.
