The Baby House is the home of Warm Hearts ~ Warm Babies. This is where we store most of our supplies, where we assemble and store our layettes, and where we accept donations and meet new friends. The Baby House is located at 6429 Miller Street, Suite D, Arvada, CO 80004. The Baby House is attended each Tuesday and Friday from 10 until noon (usually longer) Volunteers are always welcome to visit & help anytime but please coordinate with Glenda Bredeson at 303-975-6394.

The Story of The Baby House

For many years Nancy Staup and Carol Criswell of Brighton were the engines that made WHWB run. As 2011 came to a close, they decided to scale back their involvement and “just run” a workgroup. That meant no more 24/7 days at the Baby House and gave them time to try and enjoy other parts of their lives more. They haven’t “retired” and still run the Brighton workgroup… along with many other functions that slowly moved to Arvada.

The Arvada workgroup was the logical choice to take more responsibility. Glenda Bredeson (the workgroup coordinator) wanted to help but had a problem, she doesn’t drive. Fortunately, Glenda’s husband, Theron, had retired in June 2011 and was “volunteered” to help. They soon learned just how much work was done at the Baby House each month.

Part of the Arvada Baby House supply storage area

The WHWB leadership began searching for a location in Arvada. After exploring many options that were too small, too hard to access, just not workable, or too expensive… one of those guiding angels took over. Jean Jones, a relatively new volunteer in Arvada was at a car wash as she had been many times before when a “For Rent” sign caught her eye. It seemed perfect …only a mile from Glenda’s house, an easily accessible location in a friendly neighborhood, the size and design would work well. Our landlord Rick, liked the mission of WHWB and deducted part of the rent as a charitable deduction. THANK YOU RICK!!!.. Next…THE MOVE!! Friends sometimes disappear when they find out you’re moving. Not with the Babies!!

Theron asked a former driver of his race car, Michael Anderson, to borrow his trailer. Michael brought the trailer and himself to help. Nancy Staup brought her neighbors, Glenda recruited brother Steve Patton and WHWB husbands Chris Criswell, Fred Staup, and Theron helped. So on a chilly, sunny day in February 2012, the move was made. Did I mention, there was snow on the ground? Steve Patton used his carpentry skills to assemble work counters and build the shelves for batting. Later on, Bob Jones (yep another husband) and his son-in-law donated and built storage shelves for totes. Fran Hindman donated ping-pong tables, now used as work tables. Marie Kidd donated bookcases and a desk, and she decorated the bathroom. THERE ARE MORE…TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION…Thank You ALL!!!

The primary workforce each week is Glenda Bredeson, Jean Jones, Evelyn Rudiger, Barbara Bennett, Karen Nelson, and Frances Scott. Other volunteers often stop in to offer their assistance, and we always have job for them to do.

Each month donated items (believe me there are a lot) from Arvada, Brighton, and the workgroups are sorted, inventoried, assembled into layettes, and delivered to over 50 organizations. 8,000 to 10,000 individual items are delivered each month. Primary delivery persons are Carol Criswell, Nancy Staup, Evelyn Rudiger, Judy Swens, Irene Davey, Lyn Hente, Linda Posey, Karen Nelson, Laurie Balzer, and Theron Bredeson.

An Arvada P.O. box was established to help relieve Nancy Staup of handling the numerous packages received each month in Brighton. Often, items such as bottles and toiletries are needed in such numbers…they must be purchased. Also, at least twice a year, large amounts of batting and flannel (on sale, of course!) are purchased, picked up, and stored. Theron Bredeson provides the transportation and physical energy to get this done.

The editor of the quarterly WHWB “The Baby Cryer” Newsletter, Frances Scott is also part of the Arvada group. Also, our website manager, Theron Bredeson, is a frequent visitor to the Arvada Baby House.

Well, there you have “the rest of the story” about the Arvada Baby House. Thank You to all who get the job done in Arvada. It’s impossible to mention everyone’s name but believe me… YOU ARE APPRECIATED.