Local Church Partners with Mother To Mother Organization Offering Free Baby Essentials to Families

October 15, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Did You Know that ONE child in FIVE lives in poverty? That’s 15.5 million impoverished children in the United States.

For more than 14 years, the Nashville-based Mother To Mother program has been working to ensure impoverished children in local communities like Smithville and DeKalb County have access to basic essentials that often slip through the cracks of government subsidies and charitable support.

To help meet the need locally, the Calvary Baptist Church of Smithville is partnering with the Mother To Mother non-profit organization to offer free essential baby items to families in need.

Items including diapers, clothes, hats/socks, toys, linens, and baby gear will be given away while supplies last on Monday, October 28 from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at 830 Foster Road, the location of Calvary Baptist Church. Please bring a bag to receive the items. This event is weather permitting. You do not have to be a resident of DeKalb County to receive these items.

Mother To Mother was founded by Janie Busbee in 2004. She had a heart to connect those wanting to help newborn babies with the case workers and healthcare professionals who saw the greatest needs firsthand.

“We saw the needs that case workers and hospital nurses have when parents don’t have the basic items necessary to care for a child,” she said. “We knew there were people out there who would want to help, but maybe didn’t know how. So we created Mother To Mother to be the conduit between moms who want to help and moms who need it.”

Since its inception, Mother To Mother has distributed diapers, car seats, clothes, cribs, strollers, products, gear, and other essential baby items to low-income children from newborn to age 10.

For more information contact Mother to Mother at mothertomotherinc.org or call 615-540-7000.

October 15, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Who could resist a cuddly little kitten?

The DeKalb Animal Coalition has five new kittens available for adoption and they are the WJLE Featured “Pets of the Week”.

Emmaly Bennett with 5 kittens for adoption from dwayne page on Vimeo.

“These babies are six weeks old. They are eating on their own and they are using the litter box. Four of the five kittens are males. We haven’t named them yet but they are ready to go to a good home. Come by to put in an application for them. Their adoption fee is $30,” said shelter employee Emmaly Bennett.

For more information call the shelter at 615-597-3647 (DOGS) or visit facebook. The shelter is currently open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12-4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 to 12 noon.

Located at 186 Transfer Station Road behind Tenneco Automotive.

October 15, 2019
By: Tecia Puckett Pryor, Development Committee of Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County

Who makes the best chili in DeKalb County?  Find out on Friday, October 18^th when Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County hosts its 16^th annual Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale.

Chili will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the DeKalb Courthouse Lawn.  In case of bad weather, the event will be moved to the DeKalb County Complex. For a cash donation, eat all the chili you want and vote for your favorite chili and the best decorated booth.  Ceramic chili mugs with the event’s logo are available for $20.00. Delicious baked goods prepared by members of local churches will also be for sale. Take out is also available.

“We are looking forward to another great day of good food and fellowship at the Chili Cook-off,” said Alex Woodward, president of Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County.  “The proceeds from the Chili Cook-off will be used towards building in DeKalb County, so we hope everyone will come out and eat lots of chili for a great cause!”

There are 13 teams competing in the Chili Cook-off this year:  Adoration Home Health, “25th Anniversary Chili” from Evins Mill, “Hot Checks Chili” from Wilson Bank and Trust; “The Courthouse Gang” from the DeKalb County Officials; “Boo Boo Crew” from the DeKalb County Health Department; “Tennessee Tradition” from DeKalb UT Extension; “First Choice Chili” from First Bank; “Indian Summer Chili” from Indian Creek Baptist Church; “Good Neighbors” from Jackie Smith State Farm; “MTNG-Take A Chance Chili?” from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas; “Powerhouse Chili” from Smithville Electric System; “Pick It or Ticket” from Smithville Police Department, and Smithville Rotary Club.

Last year, “The Courthouse Gang” from the DeKalb County Officials took Top Chili Honors, with the newcomer team from the Smithville Police Department placing second. Third place chili honors went to “Just Good Chili” from The Inn at Evins Mill. The Best Decorated Booth Award went to “Powerhouse Chili” from Smithville Electric System, with “DC Health Dept. Heartburn Defenders” from the DeKalb County Health Department coming in second place and “MTNG Clubhouse Chili” from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas placing third. The Golden Spoon Award went to “The Courthouse Gang” from the DeKalb County Officials, who raised an additional $225.00 for Habitat in cash donations at their booth. Rounding out the ten participating teams were “The Bean Counters” from Janney & Associates; “Hot Checks Chili” from Wilson Bank and Trust; “First Bank’s First Chili” from First Bank; and “Loan Rangers” from Liberty State Bank.

The 2018 event raised $4,400 for Habitat.  A “Golden Spoon” award again be given for the team that collects the most extra cash for Habitat at their booth.

Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity builds and renovates houses in partnership with volunteers and families in need, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged.

For more information on the Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale, contact Tecia Puckett Pryor at 615-597-7370.  To contact Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, call 615-215-8181 or find them on Facebook @HFHDeKalb TN.

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