Inflation has increased. Food and gas prices are at all time highs.. Add those challenges to the difficult circumstances hitting families facing domestic violence, housing instability and medical issues, among other acute challenges and it's overwhelming for many trying to eke out an existence..
Fortunately there is a place where families facing extreme adversity can turn to in times of crisis. Pinwheel Place, the only registered crisis nursery in New Jersey, is opening its new regional baby pantry on October 24 in Eatontown.
Pinwheel Place staff and volunteers not only care for the children but also deliver family essentials—such as diapers, clothes, and baby supplies—to over 200 local children every month. For these families, immediate access to safe childcare and basic infant necessities is not optional, it's essential.
"We're here to give families relief," Pinwheel Place volunteer Madeleine Hennessy-Dykes said. "Diapers are a gatekeeping resource. Without diapers and wipes, kids can't go to daycare. When kids can't go to daycare, parents can't go to work. Without employment, families face increased risk of housing loss, food insecurity, and continued instability. But there's a community for people when times are tough. Pinwheel Place is here to help."
In the last year, Pinwheel Place has seen a significant increase in requests for larger safety-critical items including car seats, cribs, strollers, and pack-and-plays yet space limitations have prevented Pinwheel Place from meeting these urgent needs.
The baby pantry opening means more families will receive help. Pinwheel Place opened in 2019 and serves all of Monmouth County. "There's definitely been an increase in need since Pinwheel Place opened," Hennessy Dykes said. "With the rise of inflation, it's gotten to be so much tougher. And then you throw in the recent immigration policies that have changed. There's been an increase in services. The good news is now we'll have the storage to help. We've also gotten some new grants. It's a better situation for Pinwheel Place and those who come to us in need. We're doing all that we can to make a difference."
The difference Pinwheel Place is making is vital for those in the community, who are going through a rough patch.
Hennessy-Dykes is a married mother of a five-year-old and a two-year-old who resides in Oceanport. She understands the significance of stability and hopes those who rely on Pinwheel Place can experience the security that is her day-to-day existence.
"Pinwheel Place offers support so they can apply for an apartment or a job," Hennessy-Dykes said. "We don't want them to fall into a deep hole that's difficult to dig themselves out of. We work with social workers, who can help find resources."
The future looks bright for Pinwheel Place. "We've gotten some new grants," Hennessy-Dykes said. "We're building off of that with the goal of being able to offer supplies on a more regular basis."
The seeds of Pinwheel Place were planted in 1989 when a college student, Lynn Hawkins, volunteered at Casa de Esperanza de Los Ninos in Houston. Hawkins was horrified by what she experienced, which was children rescued from child abuse. But she was inspired by the team of individuals who dedicated their lives to social service and nurtured the victimized children.
Hawkins returned home to her native New Jersey and volunteered as a child care worker at a group home in Jersey City. She adopted her daughter Quady Simmons. The mother-daughter tandem formed Pinwheel Place. Hawkins is the Executive Director and Simmons is the Assistant Executive Director. The pair and the staff are changing the lives of those who need help in New Jersey.
For more information, visit, https://www.pinwheelplace.org
There's a community for people when times are tough. Pinwheel Place is here to help.