Crisis Nursery On Its Way for Effingham

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Published on April 29 2016 3:35 pm
Last Updated on May 2 2016 8:47 am
Written by Greg Sapp

(FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: HSHS ST. ANTHONY'S MEMORIAL PRESIDENT AND CEO THERESA RUTHERFORD, CRISIS NURSERY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MEGAN REWERS, AND HSHS ST. ANTHONY'S MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CHIEF NURSING OFFICER KELLY SAGER; BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: FAMILY LIFE CENTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TAMI SHULL AND CRISIS NURSERY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY BOARD MEMBER RON WILL)

It might be a unique set of circumstances.

Or it could be evidence of God bringing about some great things in the Effingham area.

Regardless of what you believe, the story behind Crisis Nursery of Effingham County coming to pass has been pretty special.

A press conference Friday afternoon was an opportunity for the story to be told. The gathering was held at the future home of the Nursery at 924 North Merchant in Effingham. That is the former home of Silk Purse Thrift Store, which relocated to the former Samuel Music building on West Fayette last fall. Originally, Effingham County Health Department was going to make space available for Crisis Nursery. Then, the Family Life Center board, which operates Silk Purse, decided to give their former location to the Crisis Nursery.

(CRISIS NURSERY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MEGAN REWERS SPEAKS TO THOSE GATHERED FOR THE PRESS CONFERENCE UNVEILING THEIR NEW HOME)

Representatives of the Family Life Center and Crisis Nursery were on hand Friday, along with representatives of HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital. The hospital is providing start-up costs for Crisis Nursery.

St. Anthony's President and CEO Theresa Rutherford said the hospital wants to promote its healing ministry throughout the community, not just within its four walls.

Family Life Center Executive Director Tami Shull said their goal is to promote life, including quality of life, and said the board was thrilled to have the opportunity to get the Crisis Nursery started.

Crisis Nursery Executive Director Megan Rewers said it has been exciting to see how plans for the center have progressed. Rewers thanked the Health Department for being willing to make space available, but also thanked the hospital and the Family Life Center for their contributions. As to when planned renovations will be completed and the nursery will be open, Rewers said it will be in the fall. She has a date in mind, but is not tipping her hand. The fall, by the way, would be one year from when she began sharing her vision for the nursery with the Effingham area.

News Director Greg Sapp spoke with Megan Rewers following the press conference...

In case you haven't heard, the Crisis Nursery will be available to care for children ages birth to six for short-term situations, hence its name. There is no specific crisis identified; it will be for whenever a crisis arises, including when a mom or dad might just be overwhelmed and need a break in caregiving. Rewers worked in a crisis nursery in Champaign, and that's where the Effingham native saw that such a facility would be useful for her hometown. There will be no income or demographic requirements to access the service. All services are free and available to anyone in Effingham County and surrounding counties, including but not limited to Shelby, Fayette, Jasper, Cumberland, Clay, Marion and Coles counties. Services will include 24-hour short term emergency care, planned respite care on a case-by-case basis, and free in-kind goods while children are in their care, provided by trained staff and volunteers.

Those who want to get involved can phone Rewers at 217-343-7438 or e-mail crisisnurseryeffingham@gmail.com 

The North Merchant facility has a history of being a helping facility. Originally a church building, the structure housed Effingham Child Development Center before Silk Purse moved in more than a dozen years ago. Now, the next use has been identified.