As we continue our focus on lifting up children and families, our next story takes us from heartache to hope.

Three local women, forever changed by the loss of their newborns, found the strength to transform their grief and purpose.

They built a mission that supports mothers and babies who need it most.

"Carolina Impact's" Khaalid and videographer, John Branscum, show us how their nonprofit brings comfort, community and compassion to families across our region.

- [Dara] They're small and oh so precious, just like the little bodies that'll one day wear them.

From brand new bibs to colorful onesies, volunteers work to create bundles for the Charlotte nonprofit, Baby Bundles.

- It's empowering that like it's new items and it's special things like handmade blankets and things that like people really put time to put together.

- [Dara] These bright green bags volunteers are carefully filling, aren't just supplies, they're bundles of love and hope.

Each one contains 40 newborn essentials, soft clothes, tiny hats, birth cloths, developmental toys, and even books to spark a lifetime of learning.

Worth about $400 each, these bundles will soon be delivered to families across our region, who need a little extra support during those first precious days.

- It's like a baby shower in a bag, and we all three got together and we first started baby bundles and spoke with other moms, the moms that we would be serving, to find out what would be beneficial to put into a bundle.

- [Dara] This is co-founder, Cat Long, and when she says, "We three," she's talking about the friendship and passion she shares with Heather Levitt and Emily Harry.

Inspired to make sure every baby starts life with love and necessities, the three launched the nonprofit in 2010, turning compassion into action for moms who need it most.

- We hear from moms that they have a sense of hope when they get that bundle.

They come from all different circumstances and that may be the only gift they get.

So we just want them to feel like a sense of belonging.

- [Dara] In 2025, the organization gave away over 4,000 bundles.

It was possible thanks to moments like this, like Coca-Cola Consolidated in Charlotte, where volunteers took time to put them together.

Efforts like this make a huge impact, because 57% of Baby Bundle's recipients report an annual income of less than $10,000.

- A lot of people don't realize the level of poverty here in Charlotte, so we're not just touching people, we're actually giving them something that can benefit their family and their child.

- [Dara] As the ladies serve other moms, they're reminded of another reason they started Baby Bundles.

One that stemmed from the pain of them losing a total of five children.

- We look back on that, and it really was a sad chapter in our lives.

We miss them, we love them.

- [Dara] Even though their hearts were broken, each founder never gave up on their dream of becoming a mom.

Heather now has three kids, and Emily and Cat have two each.

- They mean everything to me.

I think being a mom is what I was meant to be in my heart, and they mean everything, both of them.

- [Dara] They overcame their own challenges to become mothers, and now they're making sure other moms can too.

- It was time to take that grief and that sadness, and do something positive with it.

We couldn't prevent what had happened to us and our children, but we could make an impact.

- [Dara] It's safe to say they've come a long way from making bundles in their homes over 15 years ago, to now having thousands of volunteers who've pitched in to help them serve 20,000 families.

- This is such a happy place to be, our warehouse.

I love telling people to come out here and volunteer, because it's just a very cheerful, joyful place.

- [Dara] You can see that joyfulness reflected through volunteers like Marissa Patty Marshall, who feel deeply connected to the nonprofit's mission.

- It's so special.

I just had my first child, he's 10 months now and so I feel like I am folding bibs and clothes all the time, but to be able to give back, and like I know what that feels like, I know how special it is to be able to put these things on your child and be able to provide.

And so the fact that we can help other moms do that, I mean, there's nothing better.

- [Dara] And for these three friends, each bundle is so much more than supplies.

It's a lifeline, a reminder that no mother should ever face hard times alone.

Hope begins here, one bundle at a time.

For "Carolina Impact," I'm Dara Khaalid.