Nedra Shoultz, executive director of Hannah's Place, displays what she calls a "butt spatula," which is used to apply powder to a baby's rear end. The community nonprofit distributes baby essentials plus clothing, education and support to parents.
Hannah's Place is situated in a cheerful yellow house, filled with natural light and enough baby supplies to care for a small army of infants, which is exactly what the organization's executive director, Nedra Shoultz, has spent the past 11 years doing.
"What we are here for is really education and support," she explained. Along with prenatal and parenting classes, the center distributes clothes, books, diapers and other baby essentials to parents in need. "If someone found themselves in a position where they were going to have a baby but maybe not financially able to buy maternity clothes, those things are here, available for them."
The nonprofit is dedicated to providing free and confidential support to women and families in Wrangell. In addition to classes and supplies, Hannah's Place offers free pregnancy tests for those who prefer not to disclose their possible status to the cashiers at City Market or Bob's IGA. Shoultz stressed the fact that access to these free services is "open to anyone." There is no requirement that people seeking help from Hannah's Place demonstrate financial need.
The nonprofit was founded in the fall of 2011, when a group of local women, led by Christian author Maryann Landers, decided to put together gift bags for moms returning to the island with their new babies. Since then, the institution has expanded its offerings and moved into its current location on Church Street, which was donated by the Presbyterian church. On average, the group hands out about 22 gift bags per year - so far this year, they have distributed 13.
Hannah's Place was named after the biblical Hannah, found in the first and second chapters of the Book of Samuel. After Hannah, who is barren, prays to conceive a child, God grants her wish. Hannah's love for children inspired the mission of the organization. "We have a desire to see (children) grow and prosper and be in healthy relationships," said Shoultz.
Though the organization has close ties to the local interfaith community and its name suggests a religious bent, faith is not a prerequisite for receiving services at Hannah's Place. "There are some faith-based classes if someone is interested," she said. "They certainly aren't required but they are available."
By participating in the organization's course offerings, new moms earn "mommy money" that can be traded for baby clothes and supplies. The exchange rate is generous - one dollar of this currency is equivalent to the amount of onesies, blankets and baby shoes that can fit into a single plastic grocery bag.
Enterprising parents wishing to get the maximum bang for their baby bucks are welcome to stuff the bag as full as they see fit. "We're kind of giving it away," laughed Shoultz.
The opportunity to accumulate mommy money is not exclusive to women. New fathers are also welcome to enter the vast baby supply reserves of Hannah's Place and exchange credits for clothes.
In fact, Shoultz prefers to think of Hannah's Place less as a women's resource center and more as a family resource center. Though the handmade sign in front of the building features a woman with a flower in her hair, the organization offers plenty of resources that are not gender-specific, such as classes on budgeting, buying a car or nailing a job interview.
In the coming months, a few big changes are in the works for Hannah's Place, starting with a change in leadership. On Oct. 1, Shoultz plans to retire and the board is selecting a new executive director. The organization is also working to reintroduce some of the in-person programming that was cut during the first two years of the pandemic. On Oct. 3, Hannah's Place will host a "breastfeeding café" with La Leche League, creating a space for new parents to meet, share ideas and learn about breastfeeding.
In March 2020, just before a wave of COVID shutdowns swept the nation, Hannah's Place announced that it would soon offer beginner sewing classes. Like so many COVID-era events, those classes had to be canceled. But in the coming weeks, Shoultz plans to schedule the center's first sewing class, two years and six months after it was intended to take place.
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