Last week we heard an update from our Sixpence partner. If you'll recall, they are a former District Grant recipient of several items given to families they serve to enhance learning and family relationships. Danielle has been there for 3 years, but the tenure of her coworkers span anywhere from a few weeks to several years that they've been a part of the Sixpence program.
Here is some information about the Sixpence Program:
- "Sixpence is a voluntary program where families are matched with experienced professionals who are trained to help parents prepare for, and guide the early development of their children. Family Educators model techniques for nurturing relationships with infants and toddlers, and help parents become more effective at monitoring children's health and other developmental needs."
- Services include: 3 monthly home visits, certified lactation counselors, child passenger safety technician, infant massage, monthly socialization events, assistance finding community resources, transportation to well-child checks, immunizations, and appointments, and doula labor/delivery support.
Since we heard from them in 2023, their program has expanded and were able to hire another family educator! They serve 32 families, and when the few Family Educator, Petrona Garcia, is trained, they will serve 45 families. Danielle is now the Team Lead in Sixpence, and her former supervisor has moved to another position within the school. They have also moved locations to the old administration building! Their goal is to increase the number of families reading to children to 3 times per week. They used to give families 1 book per month per family, now they give 3 books per month per family! Danielle has also stated they are always trying to continue education, and now trained in assisting with labor and delivery for the mother (should she want them in the room with them). They cannot help with the actual delivery of the baby, but they can help with breath and pain management and overall assist the mother be as comfortable as possible during the delivery process.
Overall, the Sixpence program is doing amazing things in the Crete community and we are proud to be a partner with them. They are doing a Diaper Drive in partnership with CAMC during the month of November. If you'd like to donate, you can drop them off in the front reception area of the hospital main entrance. All diapers and wipes are welcomed, but the greatest need are sizes 4, 5, and 6 diapers. Thank you Danielle, Yecenia, Lorena, and Petrona for coming to speak to our club!
Some upcoming events for Rotary are:
- Highway Clean up on Wednesday: WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! If you'd like to help, just show up at CAMC at 5pm on Wednesday and we'd be happy to put you to work!
- Please sell Grocery Grab Tickets!! The success of this fundraiser is important to the club as it allows us to continue our scholarships and other projects throughout the year--including the park playground equipment too. Jim Johnson has the tickets, please contact him if you need to stock up. Tickets (both your own and all sponsorship tickets) need to be returned to him by Monday, October 27.
- If you have a sponsor commitment, please reach out to them again about paying the $250 sponsorship fee. Those need to be collected by the end of October.
- If you need an opportunity to sell, members are selling outside of Foodmart during the Saturdays in October. Please show up from either 9-10:30 or 10:30-12 to help sell!
- The Grocery Grab drawing is the morning of October 29th at 9th St. Please be there before 7:30am if you'd like to be a part of the drawing!
- The Grocery Grab is on November 8th at Crete Foodmart at 7:45am. Please make a point to be there to show support for the Grocery Grab and see how much the grand prize winner "grabs".
- The Christmas Party is scheduled for December 18th (Thursday) at the Library community room. Please mark your calendars for this event!
That's all for now, thank you, Rotary friends!