Building trust and connections
May 5, 2025FISH and Great Start Baby Pantry
“It started with a wish,” said Christina Yuhasz, standing in the office space of the Family Information Service Hub (FISH) and Great Start Baby Pantry. “Who would have thought that it would become this?”
FISH grew out of a concern for families whose children weren’t arriving at school kindergarten ready. The truth is it can be hard to prepare kids for kindergarten when you have to focus your energy on how you’ll find housing or tomorrow’s meals.
“Families didn’t know what services existed or how to find help meeting basic needs,” said Christina, a Great Start parent liaison through NC RESA. “There’s such a stigma around needing assistance, and there shouldn’t be. So many families are just one paycheck away from disaster.”
Now FISH sets up in different locations throughout the county to meet with families and help them find resources and apply for assistance. Christina and her colleagues Victoria and Sarah know who to call and how to fill out applications. “We’ve gotten to know local organizations and what they offer,” said Christina. “We can make those connections.”
FISH’s Fremont location, housed in the Fremont Rec Center, is also home to the Baby Pantry. Parents can visit by appointment to pick up diapers, formula, clothes, and other items. They also offer Spanish-speaking service, safe sleep education, medication lock boxes, and more.
The Baby Pantry and FISH serve more than 1,000 Newaygo County families annually. Their work is supported by an array of partners providing grants—like one last fall from the Community Foundation—along with in-kind support and donations. Donation bins at the Baby Pantry are regularly filled with new and gently used items. Some of the items come from past clients, eager to give back.
“Families are so excited to donate back clothes and help someone else,” said Christina. “It’s so rewarding to see. Watching the whole community come around this makes you really grateful.”
