In celebration of National Volunteer Week, and in anticipation of the In the NIC of Time Gala on April 21, we had the pleasure of connecting with one of Cottie & Cake’s dedicated volunteers: Lindsay Howard.

How long have you volunteered with In the NIC of Time and Cottie & Cake?  I have been a committee member with Cottie and Cake since it was founded in 2011.

What inspired you to take part in this important fundraising initiative and event?  I am so blessed to be able to call Meghan Hampton one of my dearest, lifelong friends.  Being by Meghan’s side during her high-risk pregnancy, through delivery and during her stay at the Levine Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), I was able to directly witness of the unbounded love and care given to Scottie, Meghan and her family.  When Meghan and Steve decided to honor their girls, Katelynn and Scottie, by starting the Cottie and Cake Fund, I immediately knew that I wanted to be a part of their journey.  Supporting neonatal care at Levine Children’s Hospital and [Charlotte Fetal Care] is not only near and dear to my heart from this particular story, but also because of the numerous people that I know that have had an experience with them.  Understanding the impact that the NICU and [Charlotte] Fetal Care have on people’s lives on a day-to-day basis alone was enough for me to be inspired to take part!

What is your role with In the NIC of Time and/or Cottie and Cake?  I have been a committee member since the Cottie and Cake fund began.  Responsibilities as a committee member have included creating fund awareness, planning the In the Nic of Time events, planning and hosting local events, recruiting sponsors and families for financial support, and working closely with the Levine’s NICU and Charlotte Fetal Care to define tangible needs year after year in which our funds would support…and many other roles!

What has been the most rewarding part about volunteering with Cottie and Cake?  For me, the most rewarding part about volunteering with the Cottie and Cake fund, thus far, has been the neonatal webcam system installation.  The NICU and Progressive Care Nurseries at Levine Children’s Hospital now have webcams installed at every isolate for real-time viewing of the babies.  I have heard story after story from families that had to go back to work while their baby was continuing to fight to survive.   As a mother, I simply cannot imagine the stress of having to be away from a newborn.  I believe that the next best thing to being there would be being allowed to watch their baby’s daily progress through the webcam, either from their computer at work or from anywhere else utilizing their mobile device.

What three words best describe who you are?  Loyal, logical and sociable.

On behalf of Cottie and Cake, thank you, Lindsay, for your unwavering support of this important fundraising initiative that benefits Levine Children’s Hospital and Charlotte Fetal Care in so many vital ways.

Pictured (left to right): Lindsay Howard with Cottie and Cake co-Founder,  Meghan Hampton.