“Baby Steps” wins nearly $10,000 grant

The Portneuf Health Care Foundation donated nearly $10,000 to one local organization that helps families in need.

The Bannock Youth Foundation’s “Baby Steps” program won the $9,600 grant on Monday after applying for the award this past spring.

The program helps provide free resources and services to expectant mothers and new families.

Program director Heather Kemp said the program works by allowing parents to earn points by attending doctor’s appointments and support groups. These points can then allow them to “purchase” necessary goods they might not be able to afford on their own.

“With those points, we really want to have some great things families can purchase,” Kemp said. “So, having car seats, feeding pillows, bottles, and everything families with new babies need, is so important to the program.”

Kemp said she sees a constant need in the community for the program to expand, and this money will also go toward helping them with the cost of providing these resources to more families in need.