Foundations Resource Center, a nonprofit organization in our community that provides counseling and resources to pregnant women has gone one step further to help mothers in need. Jessica Anthony, Director of Development at FRC, explains that the baby boutique developed organically and has been helpful for mothers in need.
"We had a resource room in our center, and it was just where donations got dropped off," Anthony explains.
Even though volunteers would unpack and sort through the donations, it was still challenging to find a specific item at the time it was requested. Tubs and bins filled the room, and there wasn't a true organizational system at that time.
Two weeks before Thanksgiving, Anthony and her colleague, director Jordan Mathis, were overwhelmed with donations following a request on Facebook, and the two brainstormed about where to store the items until they were given away. They had an idea that would streamline donations for mothers in need: "We could turn our office into a baby boutique," Anthony says. "So we rearranged our office, and we moved our office into another room."
Anthony and Mathis wanted to make it look as much like a store as possible in order to preserve the dignity of their recipients. They ordered shelving, took everything out of the space and cleaned it, and focused on transforming their former office into the much-needed baby boutique. Clothing is now on hangers and in dresser drawers, formula is on shelves, and every item is organized and accessible. There are no stipulations in order for women to get what they need for their children.
"Everything is free; nothing is for sale. It's based on need," Anthony explains.
Foundations Resource Center is currently accepting donations as their baby boutique is frequented by clients three to four times per day.
"We are always taking donations for diapers and wipes and formula," Anthony says. She also says they accept up to 2T clothing for boys and girls, regardless of the season, as well as bath items: shampoo, towels, washcloths, and random items such as nail clippers, diaper cream, and pacifiers.
A good rule of thumb is to think of it as what one might bring to a baby shower would be helpful to Foundations Resource Center's clients.
Foundations Resource Center is located at 418 S. Main St. in Statesboro and is open on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM.
For more information about Foundations Resource Center, visit their website at https://foundationsresourcecenter.org/.
