By Maggie LaNoue, Contributing Writer
October 2, 2026
Food, early learning, and health resources came together for families at Healthy Babies Day on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Crowell School in Albion. The Albion Health Care Alliance organized the event, with Amy Reimann helping coordinate, and Men Who Give sponsored it in part.
Families took home diapers from a giveaway tent near the entrance, along with infant sleep sacks, first-aid kits, and other items inside.
Early learning was a shared theme. The Albion District Library offered information on Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten and programs for young children. Families can stop by the library to learn more.
At the Albion Rotary table, Dave Farley talked about ways parents and caregivers can nurture babies’ and toddlers’ developing brains. He shared the Brain Game, a book of research-based activities for a child’s first three years, including touching, talking, singing and reading together. Free copies are available at the Albion District Library and other area organizations. Farley also said Albion Rotary voted to provide startup funding for the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library endowment at the Albion Community Foundation.
Calhoun ISD Early Childhood Connections offered information about playgroups, family coaching and home visiting, with activities encouraging families to talk, read, sing and play with children from infancy. Expectant and new parents can also find free virtual classes on birth and beyond, postpartum planning, infant car-seat safety, and infant feeding at SWMPQIC.com.
Andrea Morrison, a health educator and infant safe sleep coordinator with the Calhoun County Public Health Department, talked with visitors about safe sleep, using two portable cribs to show safe and unsafe sleep spaces. The rule to remember: babies sleep on their backs, in their own uncluttered sleep space.
The Health Department also covered lead safety. Michigan now requires blood lead testing for children at ages 1 and 2, making it a routine part of well-child care, and children ages 2 through 5 with no record of a previous test must also be tested. Parents can ask about the test at their child’s next checkup. Other health and safety topics included vaccinations, dental care and car-seat safety.
Several health services are close to home in the Cram Building behind the Bohm Theatre, where the Health Department has an Albion office and Grace Health provides health and dental services. Grace Health handed out toothbrushes and small sand timers to help children brush long enough.
Reimann recently presented information about Rx Kids to the Albion City Council. Eligible Albion residents can receive $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 a month for the baby’s first six months, with no income requirement. Families can apply at RxKids.org or learn more at the Health Department in the Cram Building.
Community Action of South Central Michigan shared information about early-childhood programs and other assistance, including housing help through weatherization, minor home repairs and Lead Safe assistance. Learn more at CAASCM.org.
Food assistance rounded out the day. Todd “TJ” Rathburn of the South Michigan Food Bank said families are not limited to food distributions in their own community; Albion-area families can also go to distributions in Homer, Marshall and Jackson. Families can carpool, he said, and each household represented receives food for its own family. The “Find Food” listing at SMFoodBank.org shows food pantries and distributions by location and day.
Closer to home, Albion’s Community Table offers regular food distributions and a pantry at Opportunity High School. Information was also available about Food Smarts classes on preparing nutritious meals, reducing food waste and stretching grocery dollars.
With services divided among many organizations, knowing where to start can be the hardest part. Residents can call Michigan 2-1-1 to be connected with health and human services.
