Bumbershoots by Nana Partners with Johns Hopkins

The pandemic has affected large and small businesses in countless ways.  For Bumbershoots by Nana, we have gone from selling primarily at nationally-recognized arts events and pop-up shops to selling only (for now) through our website.  Our last big arts event was the American Craft Council's American Craftshow in Baltimore in February 2020. We miss your stories, your excitement, and the human elements we cherish.  

The cancellation of in-person venues has been challenging for other reasons, too.  The magic of Bumbershoots by Nana's products shines through in their touch and feel, which can be difficult to convey online.  But as event after event was cancelled, we dug deep.  Doing so made clear the core components of Bumbershoots by Nana remain constant.  The artist in Nana is driven by creation.   There was no question Nana would continue to create, to design and to sew.  The grandparent in Nana is driven by a love of little ones.  It is that love that inspired the cozy, nurturing designs that foster a child's development and promote safer sleep.   If anything, the pandemic heightened that desire to nurture.  And lastly, the human in Nana is driven by helping others.  Philanthropy has always been a core value of BBN.   Our first donation was made before our first sleep sack sold!

Born of this introspection were not only new, beautiful product designs we are proud to showcase, but also a call to greater action. Bumbershoots by Nana felt strongly that instead of stockpiling our inventory, we would donate a substantial number of the hundreds of sleep sacks handcrafted in anticipation of the cancelled events to help our community the best we could. 

 After considering several opportunities, Bumbershoots by Nana elected to partner with Johns Hopkins Hospitals in Baltimore, MD.  As a leading expert of Covid 19 research and leader in patient care with multiple pediatric hospitals, Hopkins was the perfect choice.   A percentage of the donated sleep sacks were given to Johns Hopkins's low income parents in need of something kind and happy!  The rest were sold in their pediatric hospital gift shops to raise money earmarked for research and the care of low income mommas and babies!  It is, we know, just a drop in the bucket compared to the need out there, but it is a privilege and honor to do even this.