JEFFERSONVILLE – Five and one half years ago, when Angela Salazar-Leija and April Stackhouse were faced with a situation of having a young family, husbands laid off from their jobs and few places to turn for assistance, they did more than seek help for their children. They, along with their friend, Nancy Hartshorne, became a resource for others faced with the same dilemma.
“Our desire to help others came from need,” stated April. “We try to provide the things that we needed back before February of 2002 to the 500 families we serve each month. We knew we could secure the donations of diapers, formula and other items families in need could use. We just needed a place where we could keep everything and distribute it to those that needed it most.”
With help from Mayor Tom Galligan, Baby Haven set up shop at Community Action of Southern Indiana (CASI). Their success created a need for more space, which CASI didn’t have.
A meeting with Marcie Ziemer, Director of Family & Children’s Services for New Hope Services, Inc. put things in motion for a very positive move.
“What Baby Haven and their small group of volunteers was able to accomplish in such a small amount of space, and in just a short time, was phenomenal,” says Ziemer. “After meeting with them, seeing what they were doing and knowing we had some additional space at New Hope Commons,”
“I felt the partnership was only natural. New Hope had just moved the Clark County WIC program, that we sponsor, into new space at New Hope Commons, 1302 Wall Street, and was in the process of setting up our Healthy Families, Family Preservation and CAPS programs there. Donating space to this hardworking, volunteer group just feels like the right thing to do.”
The feeling was mutual. As of the first of November, Baby Haven has moved to a “much more accommodating space,” said Stackhouse. “We’ll have space to store our donations and to distribute them to our families without them having to wait in a hallway. Plus, other services they may be eligible for are right here in the building.”
Baby Haven is open, providing, free of charge, diapers and other infant & toddler supplies, including car seats, strollers, etc., to needy families, on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm and the 4th Thursday from 4:00 pm until 6:30 pm.
They are also open Monday through Friday from 10 am until noon for new client intake. For more information, and to see if you qualify, you may call New Hope Commons at 812 288- 4304 ext. 343 or contact April Stackhouse at 502 664-4152.
