STEP BY STEP - PUTTING FAMILIES FIRST
Each year, 300 Windermere offices in the Western United State close for Community Service Day. Managers, agents and staff devote this day to making a positive change in our neighborhoods. On Friday, June 7th, Windermere Abode will be closed so that we can support Step By Step. They haven’t had the funding to do some needed landscaping, so we’re rolling up our sleeves, putting some gloves on and getting in the weeds for a great cause!
Step By Step is located in Puyallup and founded by Krista Linden. Last year, Abode made a trip out to Puyallup to visit Krista and her volunteers to learn more about this community resource for expecting mothers. Watch the video here from our visit.
How did Step By Step come to be? Krista held a baby girl with fetal alcohol syndrome during a college student teaching experience and was forever changed. She knew that she wanted to dedicate her life to help mothers be their best so their babies could have a healthy start.
In 1997, she found a registered nurse, a licensed counselor, a dietitian, her daughters and some community members to serve on her board, and founded Step By Step. Step By Step has grown to serve over 1,200 women each year. They have helped thousands of women in our local community transform their lives and the lives of their families for the better.
Step By Step believes that all babies should have healthy start. They provide a multitude of programs and service Pierce, King, Kitsap and Snohomish County. One of the programs they provide for expecting mothers is pregnancy support through in-home visits, providing basic assistance, baby items, maternity support and infant case management.
Coming from difficult backgrounds and circumstances can make parenting a newborn particularly challenging, so after those new bundles of joy arrive, Step By Step aids mothers with encouragement and support by giving these moms parenting and life skills classes, community events and mom groups.
Homelessness becomes a real possibility for women who are victims of domestic violence, or young moms whose parent or guardian may have asked them to leave the home. For mothers who are at risk or are homeless, Step By Step provides assistance through their Rapid Rehousing Program.
Gainful employment is vital for these new mothers to be able care for themselves and their families. Step By Step is working towards providing job training, workforce development and education this year - learn more here http://www.legacyinmotionproject.org/the-project
These onsite services will include job readiness training, on the job training and workforce experience. Mothers can also apply for Step By Step’s annual scholarship opportunity to pursue their GED, vocational/trade school, certified programs, internship/mentorship, associates degree at a community college and undergraduate or graduate degree at a 4-year college or university.
How can you get involved to help Step By Step serve our community? Partake in one of their events throughout the year that raises funds for their programs: the Annual Benefit Dinner & Auction, 5K Fundraising Walk/Run, Annual Mother’s Day Hanging Basket Sale & Event, and their Annual Family Christmas Celebration.
If you’re not able to make an event or have missed one, you can also donate here: https://www.stepbystepfamily.org/donate or consider joining the Super Baby Society! It’s a monthly donor club that helps mothers and babies in need.
We’d love to be able to deliver some very needed items to Step By Step on Community Service Day. Feel free to drop items off at our office Monday-Friday from 9 AM-5 PM. (We’re located next to Columbia Bank in Old Town, Tacoma).
Perhaps you have infant & toddler toys, clothing, baby blankets or furniture that has been taking up space and your kiddos don’t need anymore? Step By Step accepts those items and more! We asked Lara Miller what Step By Step is in need of the most right now and she said:
- Avent soothie pacifiers, or any pacifiers - Avent is the most loved
- Newborn diapers
- Small packs of wipes - 75-100 count
Thank you for helping us support this wonderful community organization!
