CINCINNATI — Families in need across Ohio are struggling to provide for their loved ones during the pandemic. That’s why Cincinnati's nonprofit Santa Maria Community Services organized a spring health fair to help with those needs.

Mother Lauren Redmon, 19, just picked up a goody bag from the Healthy Moms and Babes station  at the Santa Maria Community Services Test and Protect Health Fair. It's been a rough couple of months for Redmon while trying to take care of her 5-month-old daughter during the pandemic.

“I am a single mom, and I'm younger and it's harder,” said Redmon. “I’m 19 and being a single mom is hard, but I live with family and they help out a lot with her.”

That’s why she’s grateful for Healthy Moms and Babes, an outreach ministry that aims to improve infant outcome, for providing her with a monthly supply of diapers, pre-natal vitamins and much more.

“It helps me sleep better at night that I have diapers for my baby and that she’s clean and has a roof over her head because of it,” she said.

Rylee Stephenson is the Healthy Moms and Babes Hispanic community coordinator. She has been instrumental with helping provide low-income, at-risk pregnant women and their families with the services they need.

“The diapers really help with allowing them to save money to then pay for healthier foods, groceries (and) help them pay their rent. It takes a lot of stress, a lot of that chronic stress, off of our mothers,” said Stephenson.

In addition to the baby goody bag, Redmon now has a month supply of food thanks to the Freestore Food Bank. This is just one of many services offered at this year’s health fair. 

“I’m very happy that they offered it especially because there are a lot of families (who need) it,” she said. “Especially me, I need it. I have a daughter and she needs it. It helps. Every little bit helps.”