Blog - Infant Crisis Services, Inc.

Abigail, a seven-day-old beautiful baby girl was brought in on Tuesday afternoon.  She was so tiny!  After her sock fell off and I got one look at her little piggies I just HAD to take a picture!

Every day I work at Infant Crisis Services I am surround by the tiniest of miracles. 

Babies are a sign of hope and inspiration.  They are our future. 

I am blessed to work in a place that gives such hope. 

I would like to end with a quote that sits in our Hub (warehouse?):  “A baby is God’s way of saying the world must go on.”  –Carl Sandberg

Meg Sterkel
Family Services Coordinator

The very last size 5 diaper pack was given to a client on this particular Friday.  No time for despair, as a mere 5 seconds later the donor doorbell rang and boxes and boxes of Size 5 diapers were donated at 2:05.  Ask and you shall receive.

Elizabeth Moon
Volunteer Coordinator

Happy Valentine's Day from Ziala!

Let’s face it; our children are growing up in a world of privilege… iPhones, iPads, elite schools, private lessons, designer clothing and ski vacations. Unfortunately, that is not the case for many Oklahoma children. What can we do to impress upon our children how fortune they really are? How can we raise them to think of others and be charitable? Set a good example. Children need to see you being philanthropic.

Start with volunteering. Introduce your child to volunteering by letting them see you doing it first. A recent study from World Volunteer Web found that a child who has a parent or mentor who volunteers is nearly three times more likely to volunteer regularly than a child who doesn’t. You can help get your child excited about volunteering by volunteering with them. If your child is interested in helping babies, sign up to volunteer together at Infant Crisis Services. Ask questions about their volunteer work and encourage them to discuss what they are learning. Support their decision and let them know that you're proud of them. Children can quickly become passionate about volunteering. Through their volunteerism, they will learn that they are not only helping others, but are helping themselves, too.

Donate. This can be as simple as inviting your child or teen to watch you write a check to your favorite charity. Explain why you chose the charity and the good feeling you get from giving to others. Ask your child what cause he or she would support if they had the money or goods to donate. If they say they are worried about endangered eagles, give a donation to a wildlife sanctuary in their honor. Encourage them to set aside a portion of their allowance or birthday money for their favorite cause. Once they are in the habit of donating and understand the significance of their donation, many children will begin their own campaigns of support. Whether it is through a lemonade stand or a car wash, support your child’s own philanthropic efforts. You will be reinforcing their positive feelings about giving.

Our children may be living in a world of privilege, but they are also growing up in a time where more focus is being placed on giving back. Schools are often requiring community service hours as a prerequisite of graduation and colleges pay close attention to an applicant’s level of commitment to philanthropy. It is important that we continue to set a good example for our children and help them build their own philanthropic muscle. Teaching your child be charitable will have lasting benefits; for them and for those they are helping.

Jo Lynne Jones
Director of Development & Communications

Last week, I had the pleasure of offering a tour of our mission to three special donors. The Carney kids, Caden, 8, Micaela, 6, and Ava, 4, are a trio of bright, refreshingly-curious donors who love to help others. They visited Infant Crisis Services to deliver $439.50 – the total amount of money they collected from their Christmas lights show in Edmond. The show, which ran from Nov. 24, 2011, until Jan. 6, 2012, featured a magical display of lights that danced to traditional Christmas songs like “O’ Holy Night” by David Phelps and “Silent Night” by Sinéad O’Connor as well as new favorites like “Christmas with a Capital ‘C’” by Go Fish and “Wizards in Winter” by Trans-Siberan Orchestra.

It was an unexpected treat to meet three children who are knowledgeable of not only their blessings, but the fact that they should use their blessings to bless others in need. Thank you, Caden, Micaela and Ava! Because of your efforts, we will be able to provide formula, food and diapers to needy babies and toddlers in our community.

You can watch videos of the songs on the Carney family’s website, CarneyChristmas.com.

Caden, 8, Ava, 4, and Micaela, 6, deliver money they collected from their Christmas lights show in Edmond to Jo Jones, director of development and communications, last week. They collected more than $400.

- Courtney Mayberry, Communications Coordinator

Thank you to the following businesses for participating in Bedlam for Babies!

Beale Professional Services
Canadian County 4-H Club
Chesapeake Energy- Fitness Center
OklahomaCity County Health Department
Cleveland County Health Department
Coppermark Bank
Enogex
Epworth Villa -- Susanna Wesley Center
Ernst-Young LLP
Everest Operations
Express Employment Professionals
First Christian Church of Moore-Outreach Ministries
InterBank
International Victory on the Third Day Ministry
McAfee & Taft
MidFirst Bank
MidFirst Bank
New Hope Church
Norman Specialty Hospital
OU College of Medicine
Phycon
Platt College
Principal Technologies Inc.
Sunbeam Family Services
The Bankers Bank
TLC Greenhouse
Valliance Bank and Building