First Chance for Children

At First Chance for Children, we’re building stronger communities by supporting parents and nurturing young children. Our four core programs work together to meet families’ diverse needs from basic essentials like diapers and safe sleep resources to early learning opportunities and parent education. By investing in families today, we’re helping create a healthier, more connected Mid-Missouri for generations to come.

Lend & Learn Toy Library

Lend & Learn invites families with young children to play, connect, and grow together. Designed for children ages 0–5, this free program helps little ones build important developmental and social skills through hands-on play. With two indoor locations in Columbia and Centralia and an outdoor playground in Columbia, families can enjoy safe, welcoming spaces to explore and learn. Caregivers can also check out toys to take home, extending learning beyond the playroom. Through themed activities, special events, and everyday moments of discovery, Lend & Learn strengthens family bonds and helps every child get the best start in life.

Baby Bags Diaper Bank

Every baby deserves the basics. Through Baby Bags Diaper Bank, we provide families with free diapers, wipes, and period products—essentials that no parent should have to go without. By easing this financial strain, we help families redirect resources toward housing, food, and other critical needs. In partnership with local agencies and community groups, we distribute hundreds of thousands of diapers each year, ensuring that every child stays clean, healthy, and cared for.

Safe Cribs Program

A safe sleep environment can save a life. Through Safe Cribs, we provide families in need with free portable cribs, safe-sleep education, and follow-up support to reduce the risk of infant injury or death. Each crib represents peace of mind for parents and a safer beginning for their babies. By combining essential supplies with hands-on education, we help ensure every child in our community has a safe place to sleep.

Baby U Home Visitation

Baby U partners with families from pregnancy through kindergarten, offering one-on-one support that meets each family where they are. Trained Family Resource Specialists visit families in their homes or other safe spaces to provide parenting education, developmental activities, and referrals for community resources. By nurturing strong parent-child relationships and addressing early challenges, Baby U empowers families to build healthy routines, strengthen protective factors, and give their children a confident start in life.

💙 Why Your Gift Matters

When you give to First Chance for Children, you’re investing in brighter beginnings for local families. Your donation directly supports programs that meet families where they are providing the essentials, education, and encouragement every parent and child deserve.

Every dollar you give helps us:

• 🧸 Fuel learning through play by keeping Lend & Learn Toy Libraries open and stocked with educational toys for families to borrow and explore together.

• 👶 Keep little ones clean and healthy by providing diapers, wipes, and period products to families who might otherwise go without.

• 🏡 Strengthen families at home through Baby U home visits that empower parents with tools, resources, and confidence to nurture their child’s development.

• 😴 Ensure safe sleep for every baby delivering cribs and education that prevent sleep-related infant deaths.

Your generosity turns small moments, like a parent reading to their toddler or a baby sleeping safely into lifelong impacts. Together, we’re building a community where every child has the chance to grow up safe, loved, and ready to succeed.

🌟 Join Us This December

This holiday season, you can give the gift of opportunity, comfort, and connection. When you donate through CoMoGives, you help First Chance for Children reach more families with the essentials and encouragement they need to thrive. Together, we can make sure every child in Mid-Missouri has a safe place to sleep, a clean diaper, and a loving start filled with play, learning, and hope. Join us this December and give every child their first chance to shine.