Ladies Tea Toasts Supporters

SEELEY LAKE - Sparrow's Vine Pregnancy Resource Center hosted their second annual Ladies Tea and Open House March 14. The purpose of the event was twofold: to thank the community for its support and tell the community what has been happening at Sparrow's Vine.

Attendees were served a variety of appetizers, desserts and tea selections, given the opportunity to tour the new center, win door prizes and socialize.

Now in its new location in the Bison and Bear Center and under the leadership of Executive Director Beth Loconte, the center offers many of the same things it has in the past, including video curriculums that include life skills, pregnancy, birth and the baby's first year, toddler, parenting from age 2-12 years and, new this year, a series specifically for fathers.

If they want, clients at the center can choose to earn "Mommy bucks" and "Daddy bucks" while they complete the various training sessions. Bucks can be spent on necessities including diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, clothing, toys and larger items such as a crib or high chair. Those in the program automatically receive six used outfits per month.

Along with consultations, classes and supplies, Loconte is taking the various curriculums into the schools this fall. She has already arranged to give life skills presentations including budgeting and finances at Seeley Lake Elementary.

With the help of volunteers, Loconte hopes to offer monthly classes for parents in Ovando, Potomac, Lincoln, Seeley Lake and Condon starting this fall. Members of the community can come together and learn techniques for more effective parenting.

"I want the resources [at Sparrow's Vine] to be accessible to everyone whether you need something or not. We offer great resources and user-friendly programs," said Loconte. "While it is all good information, it doesn't all apply all the time. That's why we say take what is functional for you and apply it."

Loconte has been actively writing grants for the center in an effort to pull from other resources outside of the community. She hopes that with the grants, the center will only need to do three major fundraisers: The Baby Bottles for Change, the Shoot-a-Thon and the annual banquet.

This year Sparrow's Vine is one of the 14 organizations in the Change Your Pace grant-matching program with the Seeley Lake Community Foundation (SLCF). Any donations made to Sparrow's Vine from May 20 – July 22 will be matched up to $5,000 by the SLCF.

Sparrow's Vine is a 501(c) 3. They accept donations of clothing and other usable baby items like toys and books as well as financial contributions.

They are run by a board and currently have open positions on the board.

For more information or to donate stop by the center, Bison and Bear Center Suite 200, Seeley Lake, or "Like" their Facebook page by searching for Sparrows Vine Pregnancy Resource Center.