Chicks in Crisis brings essentials to young parents in Sacramento

FOR KCRA 3’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY. WE’RE HIGHLIGHTING ORGANIZATIONS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR AREA. LISA GONZALES SHOWS US HOW A BRIGHT PINK VAN IS HELPING NEW PARENTS WITH ALL THE ESSENTIALS. AN IMPORTANT MISSION WILL GO TO ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. THAT’S HARD TO MISS. WE GO TO ALL THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES. THIS BRIGHT PINK VAN PACKED WITH ESSENTIALS FOR ALL OF OUR DIAPERS, WIPES, FORMULA. I GOT A DESK ON THIS SIDE SO ALL THAT POPS DOWN. CHICKS IN CRISIS HELPS YOUNG PARENTS TAKE CARE OF NEW BABIES. WE’VE QUADRUPLED OUR NUMBERS BY GOING TO THE PEOPLE THAT CAN’T COME TO US. THE GOAL TO KEEP FAMILIES SAFE AND MORE PARENTS IN SCHOOL. JUNIOR HIGH HAS BEEN MY YOUNGEST TO HIGH SCHOOL. WE’RE GOING TO FOLLOW YOU NOW TO COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOL. BY THE TIME YOU’RE DONE, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO NEED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. FOUNDER INEZ WHITLOW STARTED THE ORGANIZATION WITH HER OWN PAST IN MIND. I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A CHICKEN CRISIS MY WHOLE LIFE. THEY TURNED OFF MY ELECTRICITY AND I WAS THROWING MY EXTENSION CORD OVER MY NEIGHBOR’S FENCE, AND I TOLD HER I WAS TIRED OF BEING A CHICKEN CRISIS ALL THE TIME. AND WE JUST KIND OF LAUGHED AND SHE SAID, THAT’S WHAT YOU SHOULD CALL WHAT YOU’RE DOING IN YOUR GARAGE. SHE SAYS SMALL THINGS LIKE SOAP, SHAMPOO, FORMULA AND DIAPERS CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY, WHY DO YOU GIVE DIAPERS TO THEM? YOU KNOW, MAKE THEM LEARN A LESSON AND GET A JOB. WELL, OKAY, I GET WHERE YOU’RE COMING FROM. BUT BABIES, THOSE, THAT’S NOT THEIR CHOICE. HELPING PARENTS FIND INDEPENDENCE SO THEY CAN EVENTUALLY HELP OTHERS. THEY COME BACK. THEY DONATE TO ME. BRINGING LIFE CHANGING DONATIONS TO MOMS AND DADS IN CRISIS. WE MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY’RE AT. I GUESS THAT’S WHAT YOU COULD SAY. LISA GONZALES KCRA THREE NEWS. INEZ SAYS THAT VAN GOES TO LOW INCOME APARTMENTS, ALONG WITH JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOLS AND TRADE SCHOOLS, ALL TO KEEP CLOSE TABS ON PARENTS WHO ARE IN SCHOOL. THEY HELP MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE T

A bright pink van from the Sacramento nonprofit Chicks in Crisis is delivering essential items like diapers, wipes and formula to young parents in need, helping them stay in school and work toward independence. “We’ve quadrupled our numbers by going to the people that can’t come to us,” said Inez Whitlow, CEO and founder of Chicks in Crisis. The van visits low-income apartment complexes, junior high schools, high schools, and trade schools to ensure parents have access to the resources they need to continue their education. Whitlow explained that the organization’s youngest parent was in junior high school, and they aim to follow parents through college or trade school to help them achieve self-sufficiency. “By the time you’re done, you’re not going to need public assistance,” Whitlow said.Whitlow started Chicks in Crisis with her own experiences in mind. “I’ve always been a chick in crisis my whole life,” she said. “They turned off my electricity, and I was throwing my extension cord over my neighbor’s fence. I told her I was tired of being a chick in crisis all the time, and we laughed, and she said that’s what you should call what you’re doing in your garage.” Whitlow emphasized that small items like soap, shampoo, formula, and diapers can make a significant impact. “A lot of people would say, ‘Why do you give diapers to them? Make them learn a lesson and get a job.’ Well, okay, I get where you’re coming from, but babies—that’s not their choice,” she said. The organization also helps parents find independence, with many returning to volunteer, work, or donate to Chicks in Crisis. Whitlow said the van’s mission is to provide life-changing donations to moms and dads in crisis. “We meet people where they’re at, I guess that’s what you could say,” she said. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

A bright pink van from the Sacramento nonprofit Chicks in Crisis is delivering essential items like diapers, wipes and formula to young parents in need, helping them stay in school and work toward independence.

“We’ve quadrupled our numbers by going to the people that can’t come to us,” said Inez Whitlow, CEO and founder of Chicks in Crisis.

The van visits low-income apartment complexes, junior high schools, high schools, and trade schools to ensure parents have access to the resources they need to continue their education. Whitlow explained that the organization’s youngest parent was in junior high school, and they aim to follow parents through college or trade school to help them achieve self-sufficiency.

“By the time you’re done, you’re not going to need public assistance,” Whitlow said.

Whitlow started Chicks in Crisis with her own experiences in mind.

“I’ve always been a chick in crisis my whole life,” she said. “They turned off my electricity, and I was throwing my extension cord over my neighbor’s fence. I told her I was tired of being a chick in crisis all the time, and we laughed, and she said that’s what you should call what you’re doing in your garage.”

Whitlow emphasized that small items like soap, shampoo, formula, and diapers can make a significant impact.

“A lot of people would say, ‘Why do you give diapers to them? Make them learn a lesson and get a job.’ Well, okay, I get where you’re coming from, but babies—that’s not their choice,” she said.

The organization also helps parents find independence, with many returning to volunteer, work, or donate to Chicks in Crisis.

Whitlow said the van’s mission is to provide life-changing donations to moms and dads in crisis.
“We meet people where they’re at, I guess that’s what you could say,” she said.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel