Dec. 24 -- MITCHELL -- Raising a baby is expensive, but In a Village's community-wide baby shower drive is helping lighten the load. Through donations from local businesses, churches, and individuals, the nonprofit is providing essential baby supplies to families in need, ensuring no parent faces the challenge alone.
The Mitchell-based non-profit organization In a Village just wrapped up its month-long community-wide baby shower drive, collecting essential items for mothers and babies in need. The initiative, which has been collecting donations for the past month, brought together churches, businesses, and individuals to contribute a wide range of baby gear and supplies.
"It takes a village to raise a child, and that's exactly what we're trying to build," said Tessa Bitterman, one of the founders of In a Village. "For many families, raising a child is not only emotionally overwhelming but financially taxing, and we want to make sure no family in our community feels like they have to go it alone."
The month-long drive focused on gathering a variety of much-needed baby items that are in high demand for new parents. These included new or lightly used clothes (NB-4T), diapers of all sizes(with a particular need for sizes 2, 3, 4, and 5), baby care essentials such as bottles, wipes, lotions, as well as winter clothing items for infants and toddlers. These items will directly support families who are part of In a Village's baby and children's program, which provides assistance to families who struggle to afford essential baby supplies.
While it's too soon to know how this year's drive went, as the event just ended Sunday and donations are expected to come in throughout the week, last year's drive brought in an 75-100 items.
The organization's efforts are particularly crucial given the significant costs associated with raising a child.
According to a 2023 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, parents can expect to spend between $1,500 and $3,000 on major baby gear alone, including cribs, strollers, car seats, and high chairs. Additionally, the cost of diapers and wipes can amount to $70 to $100 per month, totaling up to $1,200 per year. For many families, these costs are simply not affordable, making community-based support networks like In a Village essential.
"Parenting can be tough, especially with little ones," Bitterman said. "Sometimes, parents feel isolated. We want to try to change that."
Bitterman and co-founder Grace Brechtel began the non-profit two years ago, inspired by their shared vision of a community resource to support parents in need. Bitterman's own experiences as a new mother, combined with the challenges of postpartum health and living far from family, drove her to create a space where parents could find not only physical resources, but emotional and educational support as well.
"I've been there," said Bitterman, reflecting on her own struggles after giving birth in 2019. "Having a baby is a huge change, and it can be hard to feel supported when you're so far from home. That's when I realized that others in our community might be going through the same thing and need the support to build their own village."
The organization's mission is rooted in the age-old adage that "it takes a village to raise a child," and they're putting that philosophy into action. What began as an idea between Bitterman and Brechtel has grown into a thriving, albeit still small, organization. Their vision includes expanding the scope of services they offer, such as life skill classes for parents, breastfeeding support groups, and more comprehensive educational resources.
"Our goal is to offer more than just supplies," Bitterman said. "We want to give parents the tools to succeed, whether that's through parenting education, mental health support, or simply knowing there's someone there to help with the day-to-day challenges of raising a child."
Recently they were able to partner with the Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies to provide a breast milk depot for South Dakota. This program allows mothers to donate excess breast milk to those in need, providing a valuable resource for infants who may not have access to sufficient nutrition.
Despite the success of the baby shower drive, the group faces ongoing challenges, especially when it comes to space. The organization doesn't have its own physical location yet, currently storing donations at a local church and coordinating distribution to those in need. Bitterman and Brechtel are hopeful for a future where they can secure a permanent location for their operations.
"The biggest challenge right now is space," Brechtel said. "We're really outgrowing our current setup. Having a dedicated location would make such a difference in terms of accessibility and service delivery."
The group is also hoping to secure grants that would allow them to have a board member working legitimate hours to manage things more promptly.
For now, In a Village continues to operate on donations, and the founders are continually working to raise awareness of their services. Their work is made possible by the generosity of the community.
According to Bitterman, the community's response to In a Village's efforts has been positive. During a previous one-day baby shower event held last March, ten expectant and new mothers benefited from the generosity of donors. At the event everyone in attendance walked away with a nice baby shower basket, Bitterman said.
"Donations can come at any time," said Bitterman. "Even though the baby shower drive is over, we're always in need of supplies and volunteers to help us meet the demand."
It is Bitterman's hope to hold these one day community baby showers biannually. They're also working on developing a curriculum to cover all aspects of infant and toddler care, which will be used in their support sessions.
As the organization continues to grow, Bitterman is hopeful that more families will find the support they need through In a Village, no matter their circumstances.
"We know it's not always easy to ask for help," she said. "But we want people to know that we're here for them. It truly takes a village, and we're proud to be part of that village for our community's families."
As In a Village wraps up the drive, they remind the community that donations are welcome year-round. They can be reached by phone at 605-215-5458, through their