Today we’d like to introduce you to Tess Frear
Hi Tess, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Helping Mamas was founded in 2014 by Jamie Lackey who envisioned aligning her passion for working in the nonprofit sector with motherhood. The Mission is Connecting helping mamas to mamas needing help.
Modern-day crisis facing mothers: There was no coordinated effort to get baby supplies into the hands of the moms who need them most. Assistance programs like WIC and SNAP don’t allow for the purchase of diapers, wipes, pack n’ plays or car seats.
HMK was opened by Tess Frear in November of 2018
Starting from her garage we are now in a larger office space. HMK supports over 70 agencies East Tennessee agencies. We are the only registered diaper bank within two and half hours of Knoxville.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have learned a lot from the beginning to now. I am always looking to improve and serve our community better. There are often moments when you feel overwhelmed but you just have to remember your mission and rely on your team and community. Authenticity goes a long way when you are needing help from others.
As you know, we’re big fans of Helping Mamas Knoxville. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Helping Mamas elevates the well being and dignity of women by providing diapers, period products and other essential baby supplies. We harness the power of community support so that all families can thrive.
Helping Mamas fills the gap between direct services and basic essentials
We collect donated items for ages birth to 14. These items are distributed to partner social service agencies serving low income children.
Families are able to focus on critical services to move them out of poverty.
Social Workers are able to spend more time in direct services. Families can attend work and school
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I would say always remember why you started doing what your doing. Find what fuels you and make sure you continue to sprinkle that in as often as possible. You will get a lot of no’s but then you will get the yes’s that move you forward. It is so worth it!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tennessee.helpingmamas.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helpingmamasknoxville/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helpingmamasknoxville/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/helping-mamas-knoxville/
