Reflecting on 2025

From In Kind's Founder, Maria Berglund:

As I look back on 2025, I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

What began years ago as a simple idea, to make sure families feel seen, supported, and cared for after the arrival of a baby, In Kind Boxes continued to grow in ways I could not have imagined. This year wasn’t just about expansion or milestones. It was about connection, community, and the quiet, powerful moments when kindness reaches a family exactly when they need it most.

To every donor, volunteer, partner, and supporter: thank you. This work is only possible because of you!

Showing Up for Families, Together

At the heart of In Kind Boxes is a belief I carry deeply: postpartum care is essential, not optional. In 2025, that belief guided every decision we made.

Together, we delivered 514 thoughtfully curated boxes filled with postpartum and newborn essentials to families navigating some of life’s most tender and challenging moments. Each box represented more than supplies.

It was a reminder that:

• Someone cares,

• That help exists,

• That no family has to walk through the fourth trimester alone.

Every time I saw a photo of a box arriving at a doorstep or heard a story from a parent who felt less isolated because of this support, I was reminded why this mission matters.

Growing Through Meaningful Partnerships

One of the greatest joys of 2025 was deepening and expanding our partnerships.

We worked alongside incredible local organizations, doulas, midwives, and community leaders who are already doing life-changing work with families. These partnerships allowed In Kind Boxes to reach parents experiencing housing insecurity, NICU stays, domestic violence, health challenges, and financial hardship, ensuring support was both intentional and equitable.

These collaborations weren’t transactional; they were relational. They reminded me again and again that when organizations come together with shared values, real impact happens.

Our Village in Action

This year, our community showed up in powerful ways.

From volunteer packing events filled with laughter and care, to community fundraisers that exceeded expectations, to individuals who quietly donated month after month. The village behind In Kind Boxes is extraordinary!!

Seeing our supporters rally around families, share our mission on social media, and celebrate milestones with us was incredibly moving. Every post shared, every box packed, every dollar donated helped extend our reach and amplify our message: all families deserve care after birth.

Sharing the Mission Beyond Our Community

In 2025, In Kind Boxes had the opportunity to shine a light on our mission on Live tv- see the segment here.

Through TV segments and media features, we are able to speak openly about postpartum care, maternal mental health, and the often overlooked realities families face after bringing a baby home. These opportunities aren’t about visibility for visibility’s sake, they are about advocacy.

Every interview and feature helps normalize conversations around postpartum support and remind families watching that asking for help is not a weakness, it’s a sign of strength.

A New Digital Home: Rebuilding Our Website

One of the hardest, but very meaningful milestones for me this year was having to rebuild the In Kind Boxes website on my own. This is a hat that I'm not excited to wear, but after many tears, and hours of hard work, I'm proud of how it turned out.

This wasn’t just a design update, it was a reflection of how much I, and the organization itself have grown. I worked to create a clearer, more accessible space to share our mission, highlight our impact, and make it easier for supporters to get involved.

The new site tells our story more fully by honoring the families we serve, the partners we work alongside, and the community that makes all of this possible. It feels like a true digital home for In Kind Boxes, and I’m incredibly proud of what it represents.

What 2025 Taught Me

This year reinforced something I’ve always believed: small acts of kindness create lasting change. A single box can offer comfort during a sleepless night. A donation can turn into relief for a parent who feels overwhelmed. A shared post can connect someone to support they didn’t know existed.

In 2025, I watched kindness continue to ripple outward, and I’m forever grateful.

Looking Ahead

As we move into 2026, I carry hope because we are a force for good, that people can depend on. When days feel really hard, that's what I stop and think about. ✨We are a force for good. ✨

Yes, there is much more work to do:

• more families to support,

• more opportunities to find to advocate for postpartum care

• more funding to seek (grants to apply for, donors to appeal to)

  
  

I know that I'm not doing this all alone because you're always there, rooting me on with kind messages, sending me grants to apply to, people we should connect with, or events we should be involved in.

Your belief in our mission has helped us touch thousands of lives since 2019.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of In Kind Boxes' story.

With gratitude,

Maria Berglund

Founder, In Kind Boxes