Hi Friend,

You have probably heard the cliché that it takes a village to raise a family.  I am a mom to three kids under 9 – you can bet I rely on my support system – my village – for help taking care of my kids all the time!

But what about those parents who don’t have family members, friends, or neighbors to help?

At Brightpoint, formerly Children’s Home & Aid, our donor-supported Crisis Nursery program is a vital community resource that helps families with low income the moment a crisis occurs, stepping in to provide support before a situation escalates.

Our Crisis Nurseries provide emergency child care and referrals to other services that can help stabilize a family. There are six Crisis Nurseries in Illinois, and we operate two of them – one in Bloomington and one in Rockford.

Leah* fled an abusive relationship and took her 4-year-old son Jacob* on a train all the way from Minnesota to Illinois, looking for a safe place where her partner wouldn’t find them.

While staying in a shelter, Leah learned about our Brightpoint Crisis Nursery. As a single mom without any family in the area, Leah needed support as she rebuilt their lives.

It can be intimidating to ask for help, but when Leah walked into the Nursery, it felt like home – a welcoming space with big comfy couches, pictures on the walls and a floor filled with toys.

Leah needed help getting settled. Thanks to generous donations, our Nurseries are stocked with baby supplies, personal care items and other essentials. Leah and her son received clothing and personal items that were left behind when they fled Minnesota.

She still needed a new job and safe place for Jacob during the day, and our team supported her every step of the way. Through referrals from the Nursery, Leah got help updating her resume and found a day camp so Jacob would have a safe and fun place to go while she went to job interviews and counseling sessions.

Our Brightpoint staff are like an extension of family who are there to help during your darkest hours and celebrate successes together. When Leah walked into the Nursery to share that she got a job, everyone cheered!

Leah is just one of thousands of people whose lives are impacted by generous support and partnership from donors like you.

We simply could not offer the Crisis Nursery services without you, so I wanted to share this story to say thanks! You are part of the village for moms like Leah, people you may never meet, but whose lives you are impacting through your gifts. Thank you so much!

All the best,

Shannon Ring
Senior Director of Development

*Names have been changed for privacy