Crafting Confident Futures for 2033!
This cutie attends Fairview Elementary where our social worker, Rebecca Kinsey, is embedded to support the whole school! The Community Schools Program is a collaboration between The Baby Fold and local public schools designed to help students, families, and teachers connect to community resources. This impactful program provides after-school and summer academic enrichment programs that bridge the gaps in learning for students who may be falling behind. Rebecca also finds resources for children and families such as transportation, housing, vision testing, clothing, and food while involving and supporting parents. We can help children step into the future with confidence. Here's to the class of 2033!
A Story from Pastor Lori
I met Stephanie 2 years ago. She was young, pretty, and a bit shy. Her son "Adam" had just turned one, and they were enrolled in our Healthy Start program. My heart was captured the moment I saw Adam, with his deep brown eyes, surrounded by enviable long eyelashes. The light in her simple but spotlessly clean apartment made it easy for me to see this young woman’s face as she began to share her story. She was clearly in love with her baby and we spent much of our early meetings together talking about his future. However, I could sense that there was a longing in her heart for more than day-to-day support and guidance. After months of visits and prayers, Stephanie was ready to “try church.” I gave her several options of local churches and one Sunday late in the summer, she agreed to go to church with me. I watched her fight back her natural anxiety and enter the building. She smiled politely at everyone who greeted her, but remained quiet. Stephanie leaned in to the sermon and bowed her head in prayer. When we retrieved Adam from the nursery, Stephanie whispered, “Why did it take me so long?” Fast forward one year- to the day- Stephanie was baptized into the family of Christ. I have never seen anyone come up from under the water with a smile like hers - pure joy, redemption, and hope radiated from her beautiful face. Droplets of life-giving water fell from her hair as she hugged me and my tears fell among them. What a blessing to be a channel of grace, guiding one of God’s children back to His embrace. I can’t wait to see what God does in her life and Adam’s as he starts his faith journey in the care of his mother who will hold his hand the whole way. 
Adoptive Parents Zoom in for Class
Although up close and personal is preferred, we are making safe choices and often meeting with our parents remotely. Michaelle Maier is one of our therapists who is teaching adoptive parents how to navigate the sometimes-choppy waters of life with a child from a “hard place.” In this Zoom meeting, parents from 10 households received expert instruction on how to recognize and respond to their child, who has experienced trauma, when they go into melt down. It is often not a typical tantrum or behavior problem. There is more emotion underneath. Often these children have difficulty handling their complex emotional and physical responses to stress. Michaelle is there to give guidance and assurance. The ability to provide remote learning classes has actually increased the number of parents we reach every week. Kids and families are safer and stronger because we are able to Zoom into their homes.
It's on! News About the 2020 Hybrid Festival of Trees
It’s on! Do you need something to look forward to? The Baby Fold's Festival of Trees is a long-standing community tradition that has been providing critical funding to local kids for 27 years. In this unique year, The Baby Fold has made some fun and creative changes to keep the community safe while still continuing to fund important programs that support over 1200 children each year. The 2020 HYBRID Festival of Trees will be a holiday marketplace offering both virtual and safe in-person participation options! You can read all about what’s coming November 16- 21 at festoftrees.org.
A Look Back in Time: Walgreens and The Baby Fold!
Tompie Asher became the 2nd superintendent for The Baby Fold in 1908. She was known for her hard work, sound financial planning, and constant faith in her heavenly father. Her name became synonymous with Christian Ministry for homeless children.

Mrs. Asher worked hard to get The Baby Fold on sound financial footing and a move to a new physical location on Willow Street in 1910. The location at 108 E. Willow Street had been the home of Mrs. Charles A. Walgreen, wife of the Walgreen Drug Magnate, and today is still the main location for The Baby Fold.

A step toward greater financial security came about in 1930 when The Baby Fold received an estate gift that would be the start of The Baby Fold’s endowment fund. In 1934 Mrs. Asher received the Pantagraph’s Community Service Award – “For her practical human sympathy and most of all for her mother love expended on hundreds of homeless or motherless babies.”