Page 2 - Palm City Spotlight - June '20

Page 2, Palm City Spotlight DOUBLE SPACE

Babies Need Diapers from page 1 two times a month, but to
decrease client exposure and
We also have more travel, the organization has
space that allows encouraged clients to make
us to have private a monthly visit where they
meeting rooms will receive a larger supply
and to keep more of diapers.
supplies on hand The diaper pantry has two
for our clients,” physical locations, one in
Samantha noted. Stuart at their main office at
COVID-19 963 S.E. Federal Highway
pandemic has forced and at the Indiantown
them to make Outreach Center at 15161
changes to their S.W. 169th Ave.
normal routine, but “The client contact is
all regular services very important so we can
are still available check in with them and make
by telephone. Stuart sure they are on track, their
diaper pantry hours Martin County Healthy Start babies are healthy, and they Maureen Vaillancourt; Kathleen Stern, fiscal administrator; Lisa Kieffer, pre-natal outreach
have been scaled Coalition CEO Samantha Suffich are receiving the services manager; Board President Valerie Bell with Cleveland Clinic; CEO Samantha Suffich;
back to Thursdays prepares bags of diapers for pickup and support they need,” Aubrey Campbell, director of development; Ashley Calderone, Cleveland Clinic, Ellie Duell,
from 9 a.m. to 5 on Thursdays in Stuart. Due to noted Valerie Bell, president administrative assistant; Sarah Mahoney, contract manager; and Jamie Pennington
p.m.; in Indiantown the COVID-19 pandemic, the of the board of directors.
the pantry is open nonprofit has experienced a 50 To register for services, contact the Connect program have access to prenatal care and continue to provide that
on Tuesdays from perecent increase in demand for at (772) 219-1835. Connect is overseen by the Florida support for infants, children up to the age of three. Their
12 p.m. to 5 p.m. diapers. Public support is vital to Department of Health in Martin County. vision is for every mother and family to be supported so
Normally clients ensure a sufficient supply. Donation Martin County Healthy Start Coalition is registered that every baby is born healthy.
collect diapers information can be found at www. on the Amazon Smile Charity List providing a very easy For more information visit their website at www.
and other supplies mchealthystart.org. way to support the diaper pantry program. The link to mchealthystart.org or phone (772) 463-2888.
purchase diapers and other supplies such as baby wipes
and formula, is on their website (mchealthystart.org). All
purchases are shipped directly to the coalition’s office for
distribution. An additional bonus is that when you sign
up for the Amazon Smile program, .5 percent of all your
purchases will be donated to your designated charity.
Gift cards for major stores like Target or Walmart or Visa/
Mastercard are another easy way to replenish the supply.
The nonprofit organization has been offering support
and education to pregnant women and infants since 1993.
There are currently 32 Healthy Start Coalitions in Florida
offering expectant mothers risk screenings, prenatal care,
parenting support, counseling and much more.
The program is a broad umbrella of support and
services provided by a strong collaboration of community
Lisa Kieffer, pre-natal outreach manager with Martin County partners and agencies who have established a system
Healthy Start Coalition, meets client Kushboo Bohia in the of care in Martin County that ensures that all women Ellie Duell greets everyone when they arrive at MCHSC.
parking lot with formula for her infant.

CEO Samantha Suffich;, Robert Butterfield, Operations
Manager, CBS 12; and Commissioner Stacey Hetherington,
board member

Board President Valerie Bell, CEO Samantha Suffich and
David Bradford, MCHSC supporter

Photos by Beverly Jones