MALKACARE WELCOMES YOU

MalkaCare is a chessed organization aiming to fill the need for postpartum support. Currently we offer visits from caring volunteers to postpartum mothers to help her feel supported. Often times feelings of isolation, sadness, anxiety or even depression can be prevented or resolved quickly with a good listening ear. 

What to expect from a MalkaCare visit

Think of the visit from a volunteer like a visit from a sister. She can do anything from holding the baby while you catch up on e-mails or rest. Chat on the couch. Lightly clean by washing dishes or folding laundry. Often times during the visit the natural conversation leads to emotional release, or the uncovering of  simple solutions to overwhelming problems. 

 

What not to expect from a MalkaCare visit

The volunteer coming to visit you wants to be as helpful as possible, but she is not a cleaner, she is not a therapist, she is not a babysitter or a home organizer. 

 

There are no strict rules as to what goes on during the visit. Rather, you build a rapport and a relationship with the volunteer. She is a safe person. So you don’t need to worry about offending her if you need to “vent”. She also won’t be disappointed if you’d prefer to lay down while she does some light cleaning or holds the baby. Our volunteers have healthy boundaries, so if you ask them to do something that they cannot do or do not feel comfortable doing they are perfectly capable of saying no. On the flip side, if they see a need that they can fill (ie: picking up a few groceries, calling a government office etc) they can offer to do that task. And of course, you are free to decline if it doesn’t suit you. 

 

How it works

When the baby is born, please fill out the NEW BIRTH FORM   to give your new birth details over the phone. A meeting will be set up where one of the heads of the organization will visit you. She will then assign you a volunteer. Your volunteer should be seeing you once a week for 6-8 weeks postpartum, and then once a month until the baby is a year old. We will try to make sure it is the same volunteer. You may request to see someone new at anytime. Your volunteer will arrange with you a time that’s convenient for both of you for a visit.