We are excited to introduce you to Kaitlyn Kimball, on of our regional contacts working at the New Madrid County Resource Center. Kaitlyn has worked side by side with Bootheel Babies & Families to provide constant communication on how we can better serve families and infants in our area. We asked Kaitlyn a few questions about why she’s thankful this holiday season!
Why are you thankful for the work BBF does?
In a rural community in the Missouri Bootheel we tend to fall through the cracks when it comes statistics. Bootheel Babies & Families focuses all their research and prevention efforts on our area. Our team is made up of people who either live in the Bootheel or have worked in the area for a large portion of their career and makes us most familiar with our demographics as well as the layout of our communities and the access to resources. Understanding our communities is everything in trying to make a change and Bootheel Babies & Families has that understanding and is always working to gain new knowledge. BBF is always bringing light to what is happening in our community and surrounding communities through current and accurate data. Without those efforts to understand our rural communities we wouldn’t be able to have the impact we do now.
Which positive outcomes that BBF is responsible for that make you most proud of?
Bootheel Babies & Families has brought smaller resource organizations (HUB partners) in the Bootheel together and created stronger communication by facilitating conversations and ideas between us. Without their footwork, many or these connections and relationships would not be as strong as they are today.
What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?
I am a die hard fan of Black Friday shopping! I usually get a big caffeinated beverage, wear my comfiest clothes and set out to find some good buys. Now of course, I can’t say I don’t enjoy the madness just a little!
2020 has been challenging, but there are silver linings. What is something you have to be thankful for?
This year I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Ella Katherine. Being pregnant and giving birth during a pandemic is far from ordinary or ideal, but I still would not trade that experience for the world! After living through some of the stresses of being a new mother, I am so thankful for my BBF family that has instilled the importance of the ABC’s of safe sleep. I am so thankful that this year has brought me a happy and healthy baby!