SNOHOMISH — A charity organization from Las Vegas has opened a branch in Snohomish, providing baby essentials for those in need.
Hope Cove Snohomish is managed by Jackson Lattish, an 18-year-old Snohomish High School graduate.
The charity organization supplies families with all the items a baby would need at no cost. Hope Cove founder Tami Dukie, who is Jackson’s aunt, started the charity in Las Vegas after witnessing the number of families who can’t afford items such as diapers or baby formula.
“I had a 16-year-old mom come to my door,” Dukie said. “Her baby was wearing paper towels, wrapped in cling wrap for a diaper. And I just said to myself that this is the definition of why we’re doing this, this is the type of thing happening. This can’t happen.”
As a lactation specialist, Dukie had the resources to begin collecting donated essential baby items and then re-donating the items to any family reaching out for help.
She began Hope Cove in May. According to Lattish, he felt the need for such a service was large enough in Snohomish County to open a second branch, his aunt agreed to say it would be “incredible.”
“I work at a grocery store,” Lattish said. “I see people coming through with their WIC and SNAP cards, having trouble (paying for) whatever they need.”
Lattish got the idea to open Hope Cove Snohomish after COVID restrictions made his previous Eagle Scout project difficult to complete. Originally Lattish planned to oversee a work party to rebuild planter boxes on the Centennial Trail, but after talking with his mom and aunt he felt operating the Snohomish branch would affect a much larger group of people and was possible to do with COVID restrictions.
As babies grow and get older, many families find themselves with items no longer needed. That’s where Hope Cove comes in. Acting as a middle-man, the organization collects unused items to donate to families that can’t afford them. Clean baby blankets, baby food and formula, diapers and pull-ups in every size, breast pumps and nursing supplies, wipes, bottles and old swaddle blankets are all examples of reusable goods.
Lattish says the task has proven harder than anticipated. Acquiring donations of essential items and spreading the word about the service offered has been difficult.
Donations can’t be distributed until there is a stockpile and baby formula is one of the highest needs.
Donating essential items can be facilitated by Hope Cove at: hopecovesnohomish@gmail.com, facebook.com/hopecovesnohomish or (425) 298-3856.
Other donations can be made through Venmo: @hopecovesnohomish, CashApp: $hopecovesnohomish, Paypal: hopecovesnohomish@gmail.com and Amazon Wishlist: https://tinyurl.com/yasyqt5l
“(Hope Cove) has the ability to make a very, very real impact in the life of somebody,” Dukie said.
