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North Porch opens satellite center in Morristown

St. Peter’s Morristown Staff & Outreach Committee with the Rev. Ellen Kohn-Perry
By: 
The Rev. Ellen Kohn-Perry and Kirk Petersen

North Porch Women & Infants’ Centers has begun providing critical supplies of diapers and formula to babies and toddlers in Morristown, after opening a satellite center at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

The new North Porch satellite center became a reality in May after months of planning by North Porch Director Jayne Murphy-Morris and her staff; North Porch Board members; and the staff at St. Peter’s Church. Under the leadership of the Rector, the Rev. Janet Broderick, St. Peter’s offered North Porch affordable space and the services of a staff member, LeeAnn Stritehoff, RN, as part-time Center Coordinator. The Outreach Committee at the church organized a Mother’s Day drive for supplies and monetary donations to stock the center.

The Morristown site initially will be open Thursday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and North Porch expects it will serve almost 200 families per year. Clients can receive supplies once every three months and are given a week’s worth of diapers and formula or toddler food per child per visit, along with wipes and toiletries.

“This is a big day for us.” said the Rev. Ellen Kohn-Perry, President of the North Porch Board of Trustees. “We are thrilled to begin this partnership with St. Peter’s. We have clients living in Morristown who have been travelling to Dover for supplies. That’s a real challenge for low-income families with small children. Many don’t have cars and have to find alternate transportation at additional expense.” The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that about 12% of the population in Morristown lives below the poverty line.

Mountain Lakes support

The Community Church of Mountain Lakes ran a month-long campaign to collect diapers, formula and other emergency supplies for the new satellite center. “The Community Church of Mountain Lakes has a long history of serving the wider community, said the Rev. Dr. Debra L. Duke, Senior Pastor. “As our motto says, ‘We are more than Sunday mornings.’ Participating in the Plus One campaign for diapers and other baby supplies gives us an opportunity to live our faith by caring for God's little ones just down the street.”

The new site also received a $1,000 grant from the Town Club of Mountain Lakes, which was established in 1959 with a mission to build and maintain a strong community. The group awards grants annually to local, non-profit organizations that build community in Mountain Lakes and beyond.

North Porch background

North Porch was established 31 years ago, and has centers in Newark, Paterson and Dover, as well as satellite centers in Hackettstown and now Morristown. North Porch is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees. Centers are staffed by part time Center Coordinators and a part time Program Director. Clients are vetted and referred to North Porch by social service agencies and religious organizations.

In 2014 North Porch provided emergency supplies to 2,700 infants and toddlers under 3, which translates to 135,000 diapers and 5,400 cans of Enfamil. In 2015 the need is expected to rise to 3,000 infants and toddlers.

Why North Porch is needed

Many families can’t afford transportation to warehouse discount stores to buy in bulk, so theypurchase supplies at a much higher price at local convenience stores. Cloth diapers are rarely an option, as coin-operated laundromats do not allow customers to wash cloth diapers due to sanitation concerns.

To save money, some families extend the life of disposable diapers by drying and reusing them. Babies can spend a day or longer in one diaper, which can lead to diaper rash, staph and urinary tract infections.

Most childcare centers, even free and subsidized, will turn away a child who arrives without a day’s supply of disposable diapers. Diapers cannot be purchased with food stamps.

North Porch Women & Infants’ Centers is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. Donations to North Porch are tax deductible and, for many donors, qualify for company matching gift programs. Donations can be made through their website, www.northporch.com.

To learn now your organization or parish can coordinate a campaign to support North Porch, contact Board member Dicki Lulay at 973-644-0246.