Scarves for Newborns
Since April 2026, three organizations in Jena have been supporting the City of Jena’s First Visit Service by providing handmade scarves for newborns. Participating in the collaboration are the sewing groups from ThINKA Jena-Winzerla, the sewing workshop of Aktion Wandlungswelten, and CAFÉ 13 of the Diakonie.
The scarves are presented by staff members of the Newborn Home Visiting Service during personal welcome visits to families with newborns. The initiative originated with ThINKA Winzerla, which had offered to support the Newborn Home Visiting Service with handmade items. Since a large number of scarves are needed for the regular visits, additional sewing groups were approached, and they also agreed to participate.
The handmade scarves have been well received by the families. They complement the existing welcome gifts and also symbolize the commitment of the participating organizations and their sewing groups to the city’s youngest residents.
Fabric Donations Sought to Continue the Initiative
To ensure that this collaboration can continue on a long-term basis, suitable fabric donations are still needed. The materials used include 100 percent cotton fabric, 100 percent cotton terry cloth, and muslin. Donations can be dropped off at the three participating organizations during their respective business hours.
The City of Jena’s First Visit Service has been personally welcoming newborns and their families for 17 years. As part of this voluntary program, a staff member provides information in a welcoming atmosphere about support services for everyday family life and answers parents’ questions. Families also receive the City of Jena’s parenting guide, information on breastfeeding and diaper-changing locations, details on financial assistance, and other small welcome gifts.
Further information about the City of Jena’s Newborn Home Visit Service is available at this link .
Information about the participating organizations:
Steffi Herold, Leiterin des Erstbesuchsdienstes der Stadt Jena, zeigt eine Auswahl der handgenähten Halstücher, die im Rahmen der Willkommensbesuche an Familien mit Neugeborenen überreicht werden.
© Stadt Jena