Baby Supplies Drive off to a good start

By Ethan Nahté

With rising prices affecting everything from groceries to clothing, times are tough for many people, including families expecting a baby or have recently had an infant.

Katelyn Strother, a local mother of a three-year-old and a four-month-old, is doing something to help this holiday season with her Baby Supplies Drive.

“I realized times are getting pretty hard and I want mommas to keep their children and not abort them,” Strother said. “I want to make things easier for them, including post-partum supplies, if they can’t get them. There are mommas who have no support, no baby showers and they need help. I want to support them in their choice to keep their children.”

This is the first year of the project, which began Nov. 16 and will contin- ue through Dec. 16, and she’s already making a difference.

Strother said, “I’m accepting all things for baby supplies like diapers, baby wipes, pumps, nursing pads, bottles, things to baby-roof homes… anything to support moms and new babies.

“Everything is local-to-local. I’m all over Facebook finding families who need supplies. The CALL of Polk County and Fresh Start Pregnancy Resource Center are some of the other places I’m helping.”

She posted on her Facebook page this past Sunday an image of her young assistants who helped organize supplies to aid 11 families. There are several more photos going back through the past few weeks of clothing, formula, diapers, bottles and more she’s already distributed to individuals, organizations and foster homes.

“If the CALL can’t help them, they call me, and I get something together for them. I have several families I’m helping already,” Strother said. “Premie outfits are going to the hospital.”

She’s accepting clothing 0-12 months in size. They have a donation bin at Mena Vape Co, or Strother is willing to meet donors or those in need personally in a public location. She can be contacted either through Facebook by searching for Katelyn Strother, or text her at 479-216-8059.