Babe of Wabash County is pleased to announce the doors of its new home at 88 West Hill Street in Wabash will
soon be open to the public. Thanks to a gift of $100,000 from a local donor, and the guidance of the Community
Foundation of Wabash County, Babe was able to purchase a home and receive Foundation assistance in establishing
the incentive-based organization that will provide resources and educational programming for pregnant women and
families with children between the ages of 0-5. Katey Till, founder and Executive Director of Babe of Wabash
County, is excited to finally see all of her work come to fruition. “This gift is an incredible blessing! I’m so thankful
for the support from my board of directors, the Community Foundation, the local donor, and my vendors who are
helping to make my dream a reality.”
What is Babe and how is it incentive-based? There are two components to Babe of Wabash County; the store and
educational classes. When families participate in activities that benefit their children, such as taking their children to
the library or to the doctor, they will receive a coupon from that vendor. Items at the Babe store including diapers,
wipes, and clothing can then be “purchased” by families through the exchange of coupons. Additionally, families
will be able to take classes around topics like nutrition and parenting, and children will be able to take classes like
Spanish storytime that help them become Preschool and Kindergarten ready. Babe is not an income-based
organization, meaning all families regardless of income are welcome to take classes, shop in the store, and find
support and connection from one another.
The journey to bring Babe to Wabash County began earlier this year when Babe became a fiscally sponsored project
of the Community Foundation of Wabash County and established the Babe of Wabash County fund at the
Foundation to receive donations. As a project of the Community Foundation, Babe of Wabash County could focus
on fundraising, planning educational programming, and securing coupon vendors without the need to become a
501(c)(3) organization and administer tax receipts for donations.
Till was inspired to establish Babe of Wabash County due to her own positive experiences with Babe of Whitley
County. “When my children were young, financially providing for our family was a challenge. My husband was
(and still is) a teacher, while I chose to stay home with our three children. Thankfully, I was introduced to the Babe
Store in Whitley County (our local store at the time) and found a community of support. Money was tight for our
family in those days, so having a place like Babe made a huge difference in our lives. Here, I could receive diapers
in exchange for coupons I earned by taking my daughters to the library for storytime. I could attend free classes and
find advice and support being surrounded by other new moms. Here, I found an organization that cared for the
health and education of my children and also cared for the well-being of my husband and me. The support I felt
from my local babe store is why I partnered with the Community Foundation of Wabash County to bring Babe to
our community.”
Many pregnant women and families with young children in Wabash County would benefit from the resources and
support provided by Babe. In 2018, the US Census Bureau documented Wabash, IN’s poverty level at 17.4% while
the national average was only 11.8%. Of Wabash County’s 1,988 children ages 0-5, a total of 35% are living at the
poverty level. Having a resource like Babe of Wabash County can assist families in Wabash County working to
provide educational opportunities and basic needs for their children.
Babe of Wabash County plans to open its doors in January 2021 with a grand opening on First Friday, February 5th.
Two weeks prior to Babe’s opening, residents of Wabash County will be able to begin collecting coupons by
receiving services from various businesses and organizations in Wabash. Some of the vendors who have already
partnered with Babe include: Dr. Rafael Jose Nunez-Alvarado of Parkview Wabash Health Clinic, L.H. Carpenter
Early Learning Center, The Wabash Carnegie Library, The Bowen Center, F.I.S.H., Playhouse Dance Studio, Dr.
Jonathan Larsen of Parkview Wabash OB/GYN, Dr. Neil Bever of Hoosier Chiropractic, Aubrey Williams/Doula
Services, The Tobacco-Free Coalition, and Bright Point. Babe will announce when coupons are available through its
website, babeofwabashcounty.org and through its Facebook and Instagram social media pages.
So how can you help? Babe is 100% community supported. If you are interested in donating to Babe or would like
to become a coupon vendor, please contact Katey Till at babeofwabashinc@gmail.com. Donations to the Babe of
Wabash County fund can be made online at cfwabash.org or by check, with Babe of Wabash County in the memo
line, sent to the Community Foundation, 105 W. 2nd Street, Suite 100, North Manchester, IN 46962.