For more information:
The Parent Resource Center and Premier Health Atrium Medical Center Baby Pantry, are located at the Robert “Sonny” Hill Community Center, 800 Lafayette Ave., Middletown.
Call 513-217-4982 or visit www.cbimiddletown.org.
A community outreach program that targets young children and families to promote early childhood education and self-sufficiency has a new partner to continue its work to give people a little help during the month.
Premier Health Atrium Medical Center held a ribbon-cutting and naming ceremony Wednesday at the Parent Resource Center located at the Robert “Sonny” Hall Community Center. The event celebrated its newest partnership by sponsoring the baby pantry, which provides various baby essentials such as formula, diapers, baby wipes and clothing for families in need.
The pantry’s new name will be the “Premier Health Atrium Medical Center Baby Pantry.” The pantry serves as the conduit to inform, educate and connect families to programs.
“Premier Health and Atrium Medical Center is very happy to sponsor this,” said Carol Turner, Atrium’s president and CEO. “We’re all about building healthier communities. To me, this is a prime example of how to give back (to the community).”
She said the last thing they want is someone with a new baby having to worry about having essentials such as diapers and baby wipes.
“Our mission is building healthier communities, and we’re looking for ways to partner with our cities,” she said.
Turner said the hospital will be celebrating its 100th anniversary later this year, and this partnership is along the lines of its mission.
Atrium made a $10,000 commitment to keep the baby pantry stocked for the next year, according to Karen Maney, executive director of the Community Building Institute, the nonprofit that operates the community center’s operations.
The baby pantry has been a part of the Parent Resource Center since it opened in 2010. CBI works in partnership with the United Way, the Middletown Community Foundation’s Success Program, and the city of Middletown, as well as other nonprofit organizations. Its mission is to connect families to early education programs and help adults gain self-sufficiency through educational programming. Officials said the pantry served about 200 families.
Maney said the baby pantry program has been very successful, noting it gave away more than 11,000 diapers along with other baby essentials to local families in need. Inside each diaper is a parenting tip to help them. Parents can also get workforce readiness assistance as well as financial literacy and GED programs through Butler Tech.
“One in three kids are not ready for kindergarten in Middletown,” she said. “Statistically, every kid that starts behind will stay behind and will not be able to pass the third grade reading program. We serve a dual purpose.”
Maney also noted that assistance programs, such as WIC (Women, Infants, Children), don’t cover the cost of diapers, which can average $20 or more a box.
“You can’t put a value on this,” said Verlena Stewart, Parent Resource Center director. “The biggest value is connecting parents to early education programs. We have the opportunity to have those conversations and get them connected to other resources such as Head Start, play groups, and 4C for Children.”
Elaine Ison, a mother of three, who serves on the center’s advisory board, has been using the program since it started in 2010.
“It’s wonderful,” she said. “It helps a lot of people in their time of need.”
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