The BUGGY BUNCH INC

The Buggy Bunch seeks to involve churches, businesses, organizations, and individuals supporting moms and families in Indian River County. All moms are welcome regardless of background, beliefs, & socioeconomic status. Membership is free to all moms. The Buggy Bunch is dedicated to meeting the urgent needs of moms in Indian River County, as well as gathering for fun, fellowship, and fitness. Through our relationships and programs we want to bring one another into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, ultimately preparing and equipping moms for personal involvement in outreach and discipleship. To further our work, we are opening our new Family Center this spring in downtown Vero Beach to create a one-stop resource in our community so that all Indian River County families are thriving in all areas of life.

The Buggy Bunch uses highly effective outreach programming to reach moms and their families. For 10 years, TBB has relied heavily on existing infrastructure. This strategy has allowed us to limit overhead costs, yet impacts our ability to offer consistent programming. The Family Education Center will provide this dedicated space for our growing organization. The Family Education Center (FEC) will greatly impact Indian River County. The downtown Vero Beach location is not only strategic in proximity to those it serves, but also in its role in community engagement and downtown growth. The FEC will enable TBB to offer a wide range of educational classes on topics such as parenting, marriage enrichment, finances, and adoption, to name a few. It will host a wide range of children’s educational activities and programming. The FEC will allow our Parent Educator the ability to meet with moms to discuss family well-being, child development, and to receive referrals to community partners. Our Education Kitchen will allow TBB to host outreach classes on various cooking topics. Designated meeting rooms will provide space for our bereavement classes and private mentor sessions. An Infant Room will provide a nurturing environment for our community’s youngest learners. The FEC will afford TBB the opportunity to meet the needs of families as a whole. We also believe in the power of collective impact; the idea that we are stronger together. As such, we have built strong community partner relationships in an effort to not duplicate services. As we develop relationships with our moms and their families, we are able to connect them to the various resources available in our community to assist their overall needs.

We are eager and uniquely positioned, to help transform families in our county. Over the last nine years, we have assembled a strong group of leaders well versed in early education, finance, accounting, and fundraising, enabling our organization to effectively manage its mission. 

In 2017, The Buggy Bunch launched a capital campaign to create the Family Center in downtown Vero Beach. With the support of our donors, we purchased the building entirely with cash and we remain debt free. The relationships we have built demonstrate our increasing capability to engender support from local donors, which translates to organizational sustainability. We are strong in scope and reach. Our programs are effective and proven. Our new Family Center is stated for opening late spring 2021 and will allow us to holistically serve our entire community through expanded reach and visibility. Additional offerings will include:
* Parenting classes, Bible study, marriage enrichment, kindergarten readiness, finances, adoption and homemaking.
*Support and mentoring for overwhelmed new moms, single moms, bereaved moms and teen moms.
*Expanded social programs, including Amazing Date, Single Moms Night Out and Summer Movie Day.
*Additional health and fitness classes and playgroups, including Talented Tots, Little Champs, Dance and Praise,
Mama Strong, Open Play, Sensory Play and Mommy & Me.
*An expanded Diaper Closet where moms meet with a parent coordinator to discuss family wellbeing and goal
setting.
*Meeting space for mentoring, small groups and discipleship.
*An educational playspace for age-appropriate educational activities and programs.
*An infant room so moms have the freedom to attend programming without a baby in their arms.

Since its inception in 2009, TBB has served more than 10,000 individuals with various programming, events, and services. We have become a thriving resource in our community for mothers regardless of background, race, age, marital status, or socioeconomic status. We have become a trusted community partner, working with numerous community agencies across the county. We have finished our Capital Campaign and construction is underway on our new Family Center with our opening slated for late spring 2021.