In the first moments of life, warmth matters. Safety matters. And for families, peace of mind matters most.
Thanks to a Variety Grant, newborns and families at Orange City Area Health System (OCAHS) are receiving an even stronger start.
The grant, awarded through the Orange City Area Health Foundation, funded the purchase of a third Panda Warmer for the Birth Center, along with Variety SleepSacks that will be gifted to families of newborns.
Panda Warmers play a critical role in a baby’s first minutes and hours, providing immediate warmth and serving as a safe space for essential newborn care. With this additional unit, each labor and delivery room can now be fully equipped — even during busy times when multiple babies are born close together. The warmer also functions as a procedural table for circumcisions, frenectomies, and 24-hour newborn testing, helping care teams deliver efficient, high-quality treatment without moving fragile infants from room to room.
For parents heading home, the Variety SleepSacks offer another layer of protection. Each wearable blanket promotes safe sleep by eliminating loose bedding and reducing the risk of over-layering — simple but powerful tools that help families create safer sleep environments from day one.
Obstetric care is a very important offering at Orange City Area Health System. To receive assistance in doing so with equipment such as a panda warmer and the provision of a sleep sack adds to our ability to offer a safe and quality experience. We are grateful for Variety’s recognition of the importance of this service!
Marty Guthmiller, CEO
Serving more than 18,000 patients annually, OCAHS is a nonprofit, comprehensive health system and nationally recognized critical access hospital. But beyond awards and accolades, its greatest impact is measured in the healthy babies placed into their parents’ arms each day.
Because of Variety’s generosity, those first moments are warmer. Those first nights at home are safer. And families across Northwest Iowa can begin their journeys with greater confidence and care.
At Variety, every grant is an investment in Iowa’s children - from their very first breath forward.
