THIS IS THE WELCOME LETTER FOR PROGRAM MEMBERS.

IF YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, IS NEED OF ASSISTANCE, READ THIS INFORMATION OVER CAREFULLY, THEN DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION AT THE BOTTOM.
You can also download a copy of this document at the bottom.  Contact Amy with any questions.

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Amy’s Closet strives to help mothers and mothers-to-be in need do the best for their child.  We’re here to help you become the mother you want to be, regardless of what you can afford.  You are not alone!!  At Amy’s Closet, we will help you get what you need for your baby, starting now, before s/he even arrives!
There’s more to giving your child all that s/he deserves than just diapers and onesies.  It’s mind-boggling, sometimes, if you stop and think of all the things you will need to properly support your baby, and we are here to help with all of that.  But it takes more than things to be a great parent, and we want to help you with that, too.
There are no manuals for parenting, but there are a lot of things that we can learn so that we can do the best for our children.  We will strive to help you learn these things, from how to treat yourself during pregnancy, to installing your child’s car seat properly.  We will also offer you assistance with learning about ways to be closer to your baby and save money at the same time, through breastfeeding and cloth diapering.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND PURPOSE
At Amy's Helping Closet, it is out mission to help mothers of every kind in every way, to put babies into the loving arms of well prepared and educated mothers.
We put mothers with experience together with mothers who can learn from that experience...
...mothers with knowledge together with mothers who can learn from that knowledge...
...and provide assistance with clothing and other necessities to mothers who can need it.
STATEMENT OF EQUALITY
We will not discriminate in any way.  Single fathers are also welcome to our program.  The same requirements will be set in place, and the same programs will be offered.
NON CUSTODIAL CHILDREN
We want to help every child we can, so we have to set some rules that will help to spread our resources in as fair a manner as possible.  In this spirit, we can only give free items to children for whom you have permanent custody.  We understand that you want to help provide for all of your children, so we will allow you your purchasing discount on anything you buy.  However, it is the responsibility of the person who has permanent custody to provide the necessities for that child, so we must reserve our resources for those children truly in need.  Therefore, free items and items purchased through our points system must be for the children we have on file. 
HOW OUR PROGRAM WORKS
​Sign Up Requirements
We sign up mothers who need help getting non-food items for their infants, babies and toddlers.  We require that we actually see the child in question (or proof of pregnancy as is required).  We will provide assistance in the North Rapides/South Grant area.  This will include Alexandria, Pineville, Tioga, Ball, and Dry Prong.  Mothers in other areas may receive assistance, but we cannot offer transportation help, and you will be required to travel into the covered area to receive assistance.  Otherwise, the only requirements for assistance are that you be an expectant mother or mother of an infant or toddler in need, and that you are a U.S. citizen (or legally documented non-citizen).
Medicaid, SNAP or WIC recipients qualify automatically; qualifying documents must be provided for those who do not.  The AHC agent must see and record these documents, but will not keep them.
Qualifying documents can include any of the following:
• Pay stubs
• Child support orders or statements
• Unemployment documents
• A statement from an outside party stating the mother is not working
Other required documents will include identification and proof of residency/citizenship.  At least one item must include a photograph, along with at least one other item from the following:
• Driver’s license or any government/military issue ID
• Utility bill or bank statement (if address on ID is incorrect, will not count as second item)
• Passport
• Voter registration card
• Permanent resident card
• Social security card (we will NOT record your social security number)
• Birth Certificate
Also required for each child to be helped:
• Digital photograph taken by the AHC agent of each child
• Signed “Authorization of use” for each photograph
• “Child Being Helped” filled out and signed
• Contact information card filled out
• Point accumulation form
What is Required of You
As a AHC Mom, you are required to participate in our programs as much as possible.  As we are able, we will host educational events and classes, and will provide you with educational materials and book loans.  We expect that, as a mother trying to do the best for her child, you will want to take part in these things whenever you can.  Repeatedly not attending functions without these reasons will result in non-qualification in the future.  You will also earn credit points (to be used as described in the “Spending Your Points” section below) for attending each event.
Meetings
Meetings will take place once a month, and will allow our mothers to meet one another, meet Big Sisters, and sign up for items they are in need of over the following month.  Snacks will be provided as funds allow, or as volunteers are willing to provide.  We expect you to take part in these meetings, so please let us know if you may need help getting to them.  Meetings are worth 10 points each.
Special Events
Events may take place at meetings or other times of the month, as speakers are available.  These events could include things such as car seat safety, modern cloth diapering, fire safety for families, or even craft sessions for Moms to create scrapbook pages or holiday decorations.  The frequency of these events will depend entirely upon funding, and will never cost our enrolled Moms.  However, we will allow you to invite friends and family along for an additional fee (to cover additional materials), which will vary depending on the event.  These are not required events, but will earn you points, which will also vary depending on the event.
Donations
Donation of items that your baby or toddler has outgrown, or maternity wear once you no longer need it, will also earn you points, which you can then redeem for new items that you need.
Periodic Requalification
To maintain your status as one of our Moms, you will be required to periodically present qualifying documentation to the AHC agent.  This will be requested at monthly meetings, and you will be informed beforehand so that you will have time to get the documentation together.  If you fail to present the items, or do not attend the meeting, your status will be put on hiatus until these requirements are fulfilled.  If we do not see the required documents within one month, your status will become “closed” and you will no longer qualify for assistance.
Qualifying Status
Each Mom will be assigned a qualifying status upon enrollment in the program.  Each status awarded comes with a discount level, which dictates the percent discount that Mom will receive when shopping in the store.  The more information that is provided, the more accurate your discount rate will be.
Disposable income will be figured based upon net income less rent and basic utilities (water, gas and electricity) and other allowable bills.  Car payments and insurance are allowable; entertainment such as cable, satellite, and electronics rentals are not.  Other allowable bills are: rental of necessary appliances (refrigerator, stove or washing machine – not dryers); internet (not cable); home or property insurance when it is required.
Qualifying Status Levels:
• Great Need: 75% (100% on first trip) – great need status will require recertification after 1 month.
• High Need: 50% - high need status will requires recertification after 3 months.
• Modest Need: 25% - modest need status requires recertification after 6 months.
All Moms who ask for assistance will be considered for Modest Need status, and will not be denied without due cause. 
What You can Expect From Us
​Moral Support: the BIG SISTER Program
When you are accepted into the program, you will be assigned to a Big Sister.  She is an experienced mother, who has been through what you are going through.  She will be able to answer basic question and offer an ear when you need someone to talk to.  You will be given her contact information when she is assigned, and she will gladly take your calls anytime you need her help.
Please keep in mind that these are volunteers, and they have lives, too.  We expect that you will not take undue advantage of our Big Sisters, and will refrain from calling at inappropriate times or times they have requested.  They may have full time jobs or young children at home who require quiet for nap times or after a certain hour.  Also remember that they are there to help you with moral support and are NOT physicians or medically trained.  They cannot provide you with medical advice.  Please call your child’s pediatrician or your obstetrician if you have medical questions.
A discounted Shopping Experience
As a qualified Mom at Amy’s Helping Closet, you will be permitted to do your shopping using our member discount.  This is a discount assigned to you based on need.  Some situations will allow a greater discount for a single trip, such as sudden hardships, at the discretion of the AHC agent.  Most Moms will be given a 25% discount on items they buy at Amy’s Closet thrift store.
Certain items that our Moms need such as diapers, will be given to Moms as needed through the points program and will not be sold in the store.
Education
Amy’s Helping Closet will, as funds allow, offer events and classes intended to help educate our Moms on things like car seat and passenger safety, breast feeding, fire safety, cloth diapering, and crafting.  These events are intended to aid our Moms in being better, safer parents, as well as learn ways to provide necessities and fun to their children and save money at the same time.  Participation is not required, but each event will have a point value assigned to it, and Moms that attend will earn those points for attending, and additional points for bringing paying guests with them.
Help in Finding Other Assistance
Amy’s Helping Closet will strive to help in any way that it can.  However, it depends heavily on donations from outside sources, and we cannot always guarantee our ability to provide what every Mom needs.  In these cases, as well as in cases of other areas of need that we are not equipped to assist with, we will do our best to link you up with other resources in the area.  This includes contact information for resources that provide food assistance, free cellular phone, utilities assistance, and housing programs.
The Points System
Our Moms will earn points for participating in programs that we offer, as well as for assisting other Moms with transportation or donations.  The points can be spent to get greater discounts and free items in the thrift store, as well as to purchase items that are not sold in the store, such as diapers.  More about the points system will be explained later.
Transportation Help
If you require help in getting to meetings or events, or if you need a ride to shop or pick up purchased items, contact your AHC agent or Big Sister.  Big Sisters are only required to provide assistance over the phone, although they are permitted to provide any other assistance they feel comfortable with.  They can, however, help to contact an AHC agent who will attempt to find you transportation.  Often, this will come from another Mom who will be attending the same event and lives close to you. 
Moms who provide transportation for other Moms earn points for doing so, but you should still recognize that they are going out of their way to help you.  Be sure you appreciate them accordingly, and be respectful of them, their vehicle, and any other passengers in their vehicle – especially their children.  We take the safety and emotional needs of our Moms seriously.  Therefore, those who abuse this gift, and are not appreciative or respectful, will not be given a second chance or a second ride.  In all cases, should a Mom offer transportation to another Mom, she must ensure that all children who do not meet the requirements to use adult safety belts are seated in the appropriate seat or booster while in their car. 
The Thrift Store
Everything sold in the Amy’s Closet Thrift Store is donated to or purchased by Amy’s Closet.  As such, most of it will be used and in varying conditions.  The store will accept any donations of new or used items, and will price items according to their condition.  Remember that all proceeds from sales in the store go back into the program for purchasing items that are not donated, and for funding meetings, events, and classes.  Of course, items that are disposable will never be used, but may or may not be sold/given out in their original packaging.
There is one exception: In accordance with car seat and child safety recommendations, Amy’s Helping Closet WILL NOT ACCEPT DONATIONS OF USED CAR SEATS, AFTER MARKET PRODUCTS INTENDED TO BE ADDED TO OR INSTALLED IN A CAR SEAT, OR ANY USED CAR SEAT PARTS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC.  This is for the safety of your child.
Certain items will never be for sale in our store, but will be available to our Moms using our point system.  These items include:
• Disposable diapers
• Disposable wipes
• Diaper pail liners
• Bottle liners
• Baby hygiene items (baby wash/shampoo, baby powder, baby lotion, etc.)
• Car seats
• Nipples and pacifiers
We will do our best to provide these items as they are needed, or to find other resources for Moms when we are unable to provide them.
Earning Points
Points will be earned by each Mom in the program according to the valuation list provided, regardless of the qualifying status of the Mom.  Points are earned by, and for, the Mom who provides or participates in the required list item, and are not transferrable to any other Mom.  Points are earned as follows:
Activity Point Value
Attending monthly meetings 10
Bring a guest to a monthly meeting   5
Attending craft classes 10
Bring a paying guest to a craft class   5
Attending educational events 15
Bring a paying guest to an educational event   5
Provide transportation to another Mom 10
Provide a written synopsis of a borrowed book   5
Provide a written synopsis of an educational event   5
Provide food or beverage items for any meeting or event   5
Donate any clothing item   1 + (determined by item value)
Donate any larger baby gear item   5 + (determined by item value)
Volunteer for any event 15
Volunteer to be a Big Sister each month 15
Spending Your Points
Points earned can be spent in the thrift store as well is in the supply closet (items not for sale in the store).  Points do not have a monetary value, except in the sense that they are used to purchase items in the thrift store.  Points can be spent as follows:
• Single points are worth 25c per point for non-discounted items in the store.
• Point spending will be applied toward purchases before status discounts are applied.
• Purchases of more than 100 points ($25) will require a signature to the points accumulation form by both the AHC agent and the purchasing Mom.
• Purchases of larger items, such as swings, high chairs, etc. must be accompanied by an inspection by both the AHC agent and the purchasing Mom, and a signature of the “Large Item Purchase” affidavit, stating that the item is accepted As-Is and cannot be returned or refunded.
• Purchase of disposable items will be in repackaged smaller bundles, and will be packaged only by an AHC agent in order to ensure that safety and sanitation rules are followed.
• Purchase of car seats will require that the purchasing Mom has first attended a car seat safety event, and that the selling AHC agent will witness proper installation and assess the child that will be using the seat to ensure it is the proper fit.
No car seat will be sold to a Mom unless the AHC agent is allowed to assess proper fit and installation, in accordance with our safety requirements.  We wish to ensure the safety and proper use of our seats.  This is done for the safety of your child, and we appreciate your cooperation.  The only exception is the installation of a seat for an unborn child.  In this case, the seat will be installed in a proper position and harness adjustment will be assessed at a later time.  Only proper installations will be allowed, and sales of car seats are not finalized until it is ascertained that a proper installation is possible in the Mom’s car.



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APPLICATION