One of my favorite things about publishing Macaroni Kid is the chance to connect with other parents in our community. Often times these connections inspire me and remind me of the ability of one person to make a difference. It is with this in mind that I introduce to you the Mac Kid series Parent with a Purpose. The hope is to introduce you to some amazing parents living right in our communities who are doing unique and wonderful things, while bringing some attention to their mission.
Meet Anna Thorner, Founder & Executive Director, It Takes a Village, Baby
What is your MISSION? What do you want to accomplish?
Our mission is to provide essential baby gear, supplies, and resources to families in need while nurturing a spirit of kindness, empathy, and respect for one another. We’ve helped over 600 families since we started just two years ago, but as long as there are more families who need our help, we’ll have more to accomplish!
What inspired/encouraged you to start It Takes a Village, Baby? Is there one specific moment when you knew this was what you wanted to do?
I started It Takes a Village, Baby because I felt compelled to offer my fellow moms as much support as I could. The very first mom I helped was a teen mom - I saw the fear and the worry in her eyes and knew it was in my power to ease a bit of that by pulling together the key baby gear she would need to welcome her daughter to the world. The hardest part was just asking her if she would let me help her - she didn’t know me and maybe she didn’t want me to impose myself on her life. But, she was receptive and so I took my first step into what would become the Village. It wasn’t until a few weeks later that I realized I needed to start an actual movement to help additional moms. I realized that I could tap into the generosity of the community and provide help to multiple families if only I could find a way to pay for storage fees for the donations. So, I made a decision to cut my personal spending and self-fund the fees.
What lessons/values are you learning through this process? What lessons/values do you hope others are learning?
I’ve spoken with several other women around the country who have heard about us and want to get something similar going in their communities, which thrills me. But one of the first things I emphasize to them is how difficult it is going to be - both logistically and more importantly, emotionally. I think a lot of people have an idealized vision of what community service can be - they picture the smiles, the joy, the sense of accomplishment they will feel for having served their neighbors. I know before I did my first official Village donation to a mom in West Virginia I was so enthusiastic. So excited. So proud - not only of myself but of the community who had rallied together to help a mom in need. That euphoria didn’t last long. In fact, my heart broke in so many different ways that day, ways I didn’t expect. And it has been shattered multiple times since then.
Working on behalf of babies and their families is not easy - we see things we cannot un-see. Homeless newborns. Abused mothers. Victims of human trafficking. Runaways. We sat helplessly while a perfectly healthy two-year-old spent weeks in the ICU after being abused by his caregiver. He will never be the same. Permanently unable to walk, talk or eat. To do this you have to be prepared that it will hurt, it will break you, it will leave you crying on your knees, asking God why … and it will build you back up. You will hold babies while their mothers pick out toys for them at events. You will watch those babies grow from infants to toddlers. You will see moms finally get out of their abusive relationships. You will form bonds with families and volunteers you never dreamed you would. But you have to be able to take in the sorrow and then release it back out as a breath of peace, knowing you’ve done some small part to make a life that much better.
Who are your role models?
The most profound inspiration behind It Takes a Village, Baby are my children. So many moms welcome babies into the world with no partner, no family and without the financial resources to provide a safe home for them. Over the last two years, when I’ve questioned all the time and energy I pour into the Village, all I’ve had to do is look at my kids and see them healthy and thriving and blessed by the bounty of our resources and I remember why I am doing this – to provide all babies with the same resources we want for our own children. On October 11th I welcomed my third son to the world. I spent several days in the hospital, missing my older boys (2 and 6) but feeling confident that they were being well-taken care of by my husband and family while I recovered. I couldn’t help but think of the hundreds of mom’s we’ve helped who lack that safety net of love and support. When I stop to consider how fortunate I am, I find a renewed passion for the Village. Without us, some families would have nothing. With us, they have a sense of belonging, a support system, and quality baby gear to keep their child safe and healthy.
What can the Macaroni Kid community do to help you with your mission?
For anyone wondering how to help us move our mission forward - we're always in need of item donations (gently used baby gear and new baby essentials like wipes and diaper cream). And everything we do is powered by volunteers so we always welcome new volunteers to our team. But what might be the most pressing and most exciting need right now is for funds, because we currently manage our inventory of donated items in storage units and garages throughout Loudoun and we need to have the funds to lease a new "home" for the village - one centralized warehouse space - to bring everything together and serve more families, more efficiently.
If there is one thing I have learned, it is that one person can truly make a difference and that when others join in the effort the results are amplified a thousand times. What started as me helping a couple of moms on my own has turned into a nonprofit that in the course of fewer than two years has helped over 900 babies. All it takes is being willing to take the plunge and get involved in whatever way works best for you - and before you know it you are part of an amazing Village making a real difference.
Thank you, Anna for sharing with the Macaroni Kid community and for all that you do for It Takes a Village, Baby and our communities!
Past Parent with a Purpose spotlights:
