Unprecedented growth brings new challenges and opportunities for BABE of Whitley County.
[COLUMBIA CITY, IN] – “I’ve never seen so many new families sign up for services than I have in the past six weeks,” Laura Tucker, executive director of BABE of Whitley County, says about their recent growth.
BABE of Whitley County is a non-profit organization that aims to connect parents to community resources that will help give their babies a healthy start in life.
According to their website, BABE was created as an incentive program twenty years ago to combat the county’s record number of low birth-weight babies by helping provide education and resources to pregnant women. As of 2019, Whitley County has the second lowest percentage of babies with low birth weight (5.8%) compared to the other counties in Indiana.
While still providing this incentive program, BABE has continued to evolve to meet the needs of Whitley County families to ensure that children have the best possible start in life.
“Connecting moms with the resources they need, like nutrition classes and counseling services, or showing them the many, many ways Whitley County supports families has always been the goal,” said Tucker. She continued, “Now, we’ve created a space where families, specifically mothers, can regularly connect with other families.”
Recently, BABE was temporarily relocated to a few rooms at Columbia City United Methodist Church in Columbia City after their long-time rented building was no longer available to them to rent. Tucker describes the relocation as an eye-opening realization that a bigger space is needed. “The inventory of diapers alone takes up one entire wall in one of the rooms,” she added.
Tucker and her board of directors recently launched a fundraising campaign to fund a new location. While the location has yet to be determined, they have some opportunities in the community. “The first step is raising the awareness and funds for this project to see what’s possible before we set our sights on the exact location,” said Tucker.
They hope to raise $175,000 through their building fund titled “Like the families we serve, BABE is growing.” When asked about the growth at BABE, Tucker said she has seen a significant increase in families using the incentive program and attending classes at BABE. “It’s exciting to see all of the families using the incentive program because that means we have families going to their doctor’s appointments, attending classes, going to counseling, taking their kids to the library, and making all kinds of healthy choices that are benefiting their children and the future of Whitley County,” Tucker added.
The Community Foundation of Whitley County has contributed to the building campaign with the first $50,000. “Support from the Community Foundation is huge for us,” said Christy Phend, chairperson of the board of directors at BABE. She continued, “For years now, the Community Foundation has helped donors find the most impactful way to make a real difference for the people in Whitley County. Phend added, “They know BABE is enriching the lives of families, and we’re grateful for their help along the way.”
To donate to BABE’s building fund, visit babewc.org/growing or contact Laura Tucker directly at laura@babewc.org. BABE is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 5:30 pm at 605 Forest Parkway in Columbia City.
