The St. Louis Area Resource Room started in 2013 to help support St. Louis Area First Steps families access developmentally appropriate books, toys, diapers and other resources. First Steps staff recognized that therapists were working with families who did not always have easy access to developmentally-appropriate toys and items. The staff started the Resource Room as a way that therapists could help the family could help connect with their child and enhance their child's learning and growth.
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Resource Room volunteers began fundraising by holding trivia nights and selling St. Louis Area First Steps merchandise. With financial support, the Resource Room is now able to buy particular items to support families as well as receive donations of used items. The St. Louis Area Resource Room became a 501c3 in 2021. The Resource Room continues to be managed and maintained by volunteers.
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Therapists and service coordinators utilize the St. Louis Area Resource Room almost daily and have provided items to over 225 different children in the past year.
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Over the winter holiday in 2021, we helped 27 families by providing gift cards and/or helping with utility bills.
We helped 130 families with gift cards at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
