Kara Sterbens Tidemann, MA
President & CEO
About Gently Hugged
Giving Every Baby A Warm Start
At Gently Hugged, we believe small acts of kindness create lasting change. By providing baby clothes, baby essentials, and newborn clothing during a child’s first year, we help ease the burden on families in need while giving every baby a warm start filled with dignity and care. Through donated clothing, handmade items, dedicated volunteers, and community partnerships, we prepare care bundles filled with essential items for babies throughout San Diego County. Together, we’re helping provide every baby with the clothing, care, and support they deserve.
Where It All Began
The story of Gently Hugged started with a simple but powerful observation.
Two nurses working in public health saw firsthand how many families in need struggled to provide baby essentials for their infants. In today’s economy, even essential items can feel out of reach, and the arrival of a new baby only adds to that strain. Too often, babies were going without the newborn clothing, blankets, and other essentials they needed to stay warm, safe, and healthy during their first year.
At the same time, in other communities, baby clothing was abundant, often worn only once or not at all before being outgrown. Perfectly good items were being set aside or lost in the chaos of early childhood.
Gently Hugged was created to bridge that gap by connecting families with baby clothing donations to families in need, creating a simple, sustainable way to support both while encouraging thoughtful reuse.
We collect new and gently used baby clothing in sizes preemie through 12 months, along with blankets and essential accessories like hats, socks, and bibs. Each item, whether new or gently used, is given a second life or a first use where it is truly needed. Volunteers carefully sort and organize every donation into thoughtfully prepared bundles designed to support a baby through their first year of life.
Each care bundle is packed into a reusable canvas bag and includes multilingual educational materials on safe sleep and infant care.
These care bundles are distributed by nurses, social workers, and trusted community partners to families in need, including military families, immigrant families, foster families, teen parents, and families with limited income. Many are served through organizations working in historically underserved communities.
What begins as a donated item becomes much more than baby clothing. It becomes a tangible expression of care, connection, and support, wrapping babies in warmth while reducing waste and strengthening our community.
Our Commitment
Mission
To give babies in need a warm and gentle beginning by providing
essential clothing and blankets through community support
and local partner agencies.
Vision
A world where every baby is welcomed with warmth, care, and
the essentials they need to thrive in their first year.
The Heart of Our Work
Core Beliefs
Every baby deserves a warm, supported start. We believe access to quality baby clothes, blankets, and essential items is a basic need, not a luxury.
The generosity of our community fuels our mission. People want to help, and we connect our community with meaningful ways to support babies and families in need.
Volunteers are the heart of Gently Hugged. Their time, care, and dedication bring our mission to life.
Serving families through trusted community partnerships. We focus our support on military, immigrant, foster, teen, and low-income families, especially those in historically underserved communities. Professionals with direct relationships to these families help identify needs and ensure essential resources reach those who need them most.
Every detail matters. Each care bundle is prepared with care to support the unique needs of every baby and family.
Access is the priority. We believe support should be easy to give and easy to receive for every family.
Core Values
Compassionate Care
We approach our work with empathy and compassion, preparing each care bundle with quality baby clothes, blankets, and essential items so every baby is welcomed with warmth and care.
Equity in Action
We intentionally partner with organizations that support historically underserved communities to reduce disparities in access to essential baby items.
Community Connection
We build strong relationships with trusted local partners to ensure essential resources reach the families who need them most.
Responsible Stewardship
We honor every donation and volunteer contribution by using every resource responsibly and preparing each care bundle with care and purpose.
Our Team
Current Appointments
President & CEO
Contact Information
kara.tidemann@gentlyhugged.org
Kara Sterbens Tidemann, MA
Kara provides strategic leadership to help Gently Hugged grow thoughtfully, operate sustainably, and continue serving babies and families for years to come. She brings more than 25 years of experience in education and nonprofit leadership, with a background in strategic planning, organizational development, and community engagement.
Lauren Fair, Esq.
Vice-President
Current Appointments
Vice-President
Contact Information
lauren.fair@gentlyhugged.org
Lauren Fair, Esq.
Lauren is an attorney who has been practicing law in San Diego for over 17 years and is a partner in a local law firm. She brings her experience in operations, risk management, compliance, and people management to the Gently Hugged Board.
Camille Currier, MEd
Secretary
Current Appointments
Secretary
Contact Information
camille.currier@gentlyhugged.org
Camille Currier, MEd
Camille has 25 years of non-profit experience. She records and prepares quarterly meeting minutes and maintains organizational records. She is a retired teacher and instructional designer and a substitute teacher at various elementary schools in Poway.
Vicki Geehan, BS Computer Science
Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer
Current Appointments
Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer
Contact Information
vicki.geehan@gentlyhugged.org
Vicki Geehan, BS Computer Science
Vicki brings her 40+ years of management experience in healthcare information technology to Gently Hugged. She manages Gently Hugged finances and has been a volunteer at Gently Hugged since 2014.
Judi Lawson
Interim Director of Operations – Rancho Bernardo
Current Appointments
Interim Director of Operations – Rancho Bernardo
Contact Information
judi.lawson@gentlyhugged.org
Judi Lawson
Judi has over 40 years of experience as an Administrative Assistant/Sales Coordinator in the electronics industry. Her skill set is vital in coordinating the task of distributing the Gently Hugged bags to hospitals and other agencies.
Janet Lombardi, MSN, RN
Director of Operations – North Coastal
Current Appointments
Director of Operations – North Coastal
Contact Information
janet.lombardi@gentlyhugged.org
Janet Lombardi, MSN, RN
Janet is a registered nurse with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing. She feels honored to have supported Gently Hugged since 2020. As a National Charity League Sustainer with interest in philanthropy, she is committed to serving families and strengthening her community.
Judy Blackford, MSN, RN, PHN
Director of Community Relations & Co-Founder
Current Appointments
Director of Community Relations & Co-Founder
Contact Information
judy.blackford@gentlyhugged.org
Judy Blackford, MSN, RN, PHN
Judy is one of the co-founders of Gently Hugged. Her nursing career includes experience in pediatrics, public health, and nursing education. Her vision for Gently Hugged takes those with the desire and means to give back and links them to families with babies in need.
Karen Parker, ACNP, BA MEd
Director At-Large
Current Appointments
Director At-Large
Contact Information
karen.parker@gentlyhugged.org
Karen Parker, ACNP, BA MEd
Karen is an advanced Certified Nonprofit Professional with over 11 years of program management and operations experience in the nonprofit sector and a decade of experience in secondary education. She is dedicated to using social media and digital platforms to help spread the word about Gently Hugged.
Jan Rightmer
Director At-Large
Current Appointments
Director At-Large
Contact Information
jan.rightmer@gentlyhugged.org
Jan Rightmer
Jan is a retired educator who worked for 30 years as a faculty member and counselor at a local community college. She is a strong advocate of fostering early development by ensuring that a new book for a baby and information about library cards are included in each bag.
