Julie Bowen says supporting Baby2Baby was 'a no-brainer'

In EW’s new column Act With Me, stars share their personal stories about giving back. This week, Modern Family actress Julie Bowen discusses her passion for Baby2Baby, a nonprofit that supplies children in need with necessities.

MY CAUSE

Baby2Baby, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that supplies children from low-income households with necessities like diapers and clothing. In 2016, Baby2Baby distributed 11.8 million items to children across the country.

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WHY I GOT INVOLVED

“I’ve been working with Baby2Baby since it was just a tiny grassroots thing with a couple of moms pulling stuff out of their garages and saying, ‘Gosh, we have so much, and so many people have so little,'” says the Modern Family actress and Baby2Baby board member. “Then [Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof] took over about five years ago and turned it into, in the best way, an absolute juggernaut. … To me, it was just a no-brainer. There are so many wonderful opportunities to give back, but this was so concrete. They are going to make sure that [donations] get to exactly the place they need to go. … I plan on being with them for years — that’s the kind of commitment I like to make to any organization.” In regard to the efforts being made, Bowen adds that Baby2Baby emphasizes that people involved should think of those in need as their own children, and that the organization is about providing necessities as well as “dignity and hope.”

MY TIME WITH THE KIDS

“Kelly and Norah started this Baby2Baby [holiday] party, and it’s grown each year. You ‘adopt’ a family ahead of time and shop for them. …You always get to meet the families, and you give them these big bags of gifts that are just for them, and the kids’ eyes are popping out of their heads.” She says that the holiday party — which in previous years has featured a visit from Santa, cookie decorating, and more — has helped teach her children the importance of giving back. “At first they were like, ‘Where’s our bag?’ and I was like, ‘This one isn’t about you, pal.’ Then they saw that they got the chance to help carry things to people, and they felt good. They were excited, and I think it’s an important message.” Beyond the annual festivity, Bowen has also had some tough conversations with the families about, for example, attempting to re-use diapers for days. “That, as a parent, breaks your heart. It’s hard to imagine on a very basic parenting level.”

MY RESPONSIBILITIES

“It entails basically answering the call whenever Kelly and Norah ask me to. So they’ll call and they’ll say, ‘Huggies has offered to give us [1 million] diapers. Would you host this Huggies party?’ ‘Yes, sure.'” Bowen also hosts drives and attends the holiday party as well as the benefit gala. Speaking to the latter, Bowen says, “Kelly and Norah aren’t afraid of being Hollywood in the best way. … If beautiful people put on beautiful clothes for a good cause, fine by me. Let’s get the attention and the financial support to get children what they need.” Bowen’s biggest responsibility, though: “To be a cheerleader.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Baby2Baby, which also counts Jessica Alba, Drew Barrymore, and Kate Hudson among its ambassadors, needs volunteers, donations of goods and funds, and hosts for charity drives (check out baby2baby.org for more details). “Hollywood is proudly loud and leftist, for the most part, and I think it’s an opportunity to use our voice for those who don’t necessarily have one,” says Bowen, who is also passionate about Planned Parenthood and women’s education internationally. “It’s a scary time for many people in America, let’s face it. I’m fine, and I’m going to be fine, but I’m one of the lucky ones, and I think it’s really important at this particular moment politically that the lucky ones use their voice to speak out and their wallets to give for those who have less. … I think that if we all dig a little deeper and we all give back a little more, we’re going to be okay.”