Katie Trocheck Abel Safe Sleep and Ride Program

Helping Mamas honors the memory of Katie Trocheck Abel, a passionate supporter of the organization by renaming their Safe Sleep and Ride Program. In the spirit of the mother-of-two's commitment to providing families in need with a helping hand, Helping Mamas launches the Katie Trocheck Abel Safe Sleep and Ride Program during National Child Passenger Safety Month.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes are a leading cause of death for children. In 2019 alone, 608 child passengers died in traffic crashes, and 38% of them were unrestrained, compared to 33% in 2018. While vital to providing a safe environment for children, car seats can cost over $60 and pack-n-plays $85, making them cost-prohibitive to families living in poverty. In Georgia, 22% of children under the age of three live below the poverty line.

“Outside of diapers, our two most requested items are car seats and pack-n-plays,” said Helping Mamas founder and CEO, Jamie Lackey. “These items are expensive, and we usually only have a few, if any, each week to distribute, based on donations.”