Wednesday morning exterior Sam Tasby Middle School in northeast Dallas, Viola’s House, a nonprofit that helps moms who could also be teenagers or at-risk for homelessness, arrange a giveaway with diapers, wipes and different necessities.
“We are still feeling the effects of the pandemic, so we see that parents are in need of diapers, wipes, clothing, these last few months. We’ve had a huge need for formula,” mentioned Thana Hickman-Simmons, founder and government director of Viola’s House.
She was a teen mother herself however mentioned she had loads of assist and realizes that is not the identical story for others, which is why she created the nonprofit which has a maternity dwelling for teen mothers who’re homeless and pregnant between the ages of 18 to 24.
Viola’s House can also be a social service company and has a Baby Benefit Boutique, in which individuals can get vouchers to buy child objects and likewise take parenting lessons.
Wednesday’s giveaway is an extension of what they do. They’ll go into the neighborhood two to a few instances a month to present away free sources to oldsters of children below the age of 36 months.
They particularly arrange in the Vickery Meadows neighborhood, an space that is dwelling to many refugees and low-income households.
“It’s important to serve this area because they don’t have a lot of access to benefits in this area, a lot of mothers will be on foot walking over to this giveaway because they don’t have vehicles to get to where they possibly could get benefits and so we want to show them that we will come right where they are to show them that we will meet the needs that they have in this community,” mentioned Hickman-Simmons.
Right now one of the highest objects wanted is components.
“We get calls each single day for components, we’re grateful we do have components in our warehouse, so when moms inform us what sort of components they want we’re in a position to give the components exterior of a voucher,” Hickman-Simmons mentioned.
At their Baby Benefit Boutique, positioned at 3647 Holmes Street, moms can ask for components.
She mentioned whereas one of their foremost suppliers has had points getting them new shipments of components because of the scarcity, they do have entry via one other company.
“We have a nice supply, but we have to ration it, so if you walk into the boutique it won’t be sitting on the shelving, but the mothers can tell us what kind they need and we’ll go into the back and get it because we want to make sure we have enough to go around for all of the mothers in need,” she mentioned.
The Baby Benefit Boutique is open Tuesday – Friday from 10 a.m. to six p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to three p.m.
The subsequent giveaway shall be on the primary Wednesday of July at Skyline High School.
