Meeting the Special Needs of Pregnant Women and Families with Infants during Alabama Tornados

March of Dimes and Farmers Respond

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The March of Dimes is mobilizing its network of volunteers and sponsors to help pregnant women and families with infants cope with the aftermath of Alabama tornados in coordination with Farmers Insurance.

On site at Home Depot in Tuscaloosa, AL, the Farmers Response Vehicle and March of Dimes Mom & Baby Mobile Health Center will be distributing maternity clothes, diapers, wipes and other essentials for pregnant women and infants donated to the March of Dimes specifically for emergency assistance to all residents.

"The March of Dimes is deeply concerned about the families that have been displaced from their homes by these frightening and deadly tornados and are in urgent need of basic supplies and care," said Jane Massey, March of Dimes executive vice president and chief operating officer.  "The resources we have been able to gather to take care of some of the most vulnerable in our community are the little bit of silver lining in the cloud of this terrible situation," she added.  "Their needs have brought out the best in people who have responded generously and I want to thank Kmart for their contributions of maternity and infant supplies."

The March of Dimes has brochures addressed specifically to help pregnant women and anyone caring for a newborn during an emergency.  The March of Dimes Web site www.marchofdimes.com also has timely and relevant information about food, water, breastfeeding and infant formula, and stress.  Farmers is generously helping to distribute these brochures to families in need.

The brochures and Web site also list the symptoms of both preterm and normal labor. Stress, a risk factor for preterm labor is increased during an emergency. It's vital that all pregnant women in affected areas in Alabama know to seek medical care immediately if they have any of the symptoms of labor.  

Before heading to Tuscaloosa, the March of Dimes Mom & Baby Mobile Health Center will be making a stop in Birmingham, AL on Saturday, April 30 at the site where the organization will hold its annual March for Babies event to pick up additional supplies. March for Babies participants and other supporters are encouraged to drop off essential baby items such as diapers and wipes at the University of Alabama Mini Park on the corner of 8th Avenue and 14th Street south, to support families in need.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health.  With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.

Farmers Group, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services, an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets.  Farmers® is the nation's third-largest Personal Lines Property & Casualty insurance group.  Property and casualty products are underwritten and issued by the Farmers Exchanges and their subsidiaries, which Farmers Group, Inc. manages but does not own.

Headquartered in Los Angeles and doing business in 41 states, the Farmers insurers provide Homeowners, Auto, Business, Life insurance and financial services to more than 10 million households.  For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at http://www.farmers.com/.

SOURCE March of Dimes