An organization that works with Parkland Hospital is offering free childcare while parents get vaccinated. "Mommies in Need" was founded about six years ago.
"Our mission is to provide childcare, community and compassion to families going through a health crisis," says Founder Natalie Boyle.
Boyle launched Mommies in Need after surviving cancer treatment with kids who were 18 months old.
"I really lived through several years of really hard health trauma while having the little babies," she says.
courtesy Alan Scaia
She had been sending nannies into the homes of families with a parent recovering from surgery or going through cancer treatment. In November of 2020, she opened a drop-off daycare site near Parkland Hospital called, "Annie's Place," named for the first woman her organization helped.
"We have just a host of amazing activities, toys, education activities, craft activities and some really incredible teachers who will just love on them and take care of the kiddos," Boyle says.
Boyle is using a grant from the Moody Foundation and will provide free childcare for parents who are getting the COVID-19 vaccine, people volunteering at vaccine clinics and first responders. Mommies in Need works with Parkland, but parents do not need to be getting the vaccine at Parkland for their kids to be eligible.
Annie's Place is taking COVID-19 precautions, limiting attendance to 36 kids a day at the 4,200 square foot facility. Reservations are required, and parents are required to fill out paperwork ahead of time. When pulling up to the childcare center at 2131 Butler St, Dallas, TX 75235, an employee will come outside, pick up paperwork and walk the kids inside.
"We have every protocol necessary to make sure we're taking really good care of the kiddos," Boyle says. She says kids' temperatures will be taken and small groups of kids are kept together in rooms separated by age.
Details about how to enroll and make reservations can be found here.
Mommies in Need is a non-profit, funded by community grants and donations.
"Everything we do is free of charge for our families," Boyle says. "We just really want to be here and care for everybody as best we can."
