For Kimberly Carpio, knowing that Mommy's Closet and Betty Field were there for her provided a sense of "relief."

"She said if I needed anything, I could call her," Carpio said.

On March 3, the 19-year-old Carpio gave birth to an 8-pound, 3-ounce baby girl she named Kandice. Carpio contacted Field days before the birth, and she provided her with baby clothes. Fields is currently looking for a crib for Carpio.

Mommy's Closet opened its doors March 3 as a part of Volunteers of America, an organization that works to fill the gaps between local human services programs.

Field, a family intervention specialist, works with pregnant and parenting teens who have had issues with substance abuse. Over time, Field noticed that despite "wonderful" local programs, the young mothers continued to fall through the cracks in certain areas.

Women would call her mid-month and have no formula and no more food stamps. One woman was forced to do her laundry in the bathtub because she couldn't afford the coin-operated washers. Another missed her prenatal appointments because she had outgrown her maternity clothes and had nothing else to wear.

Field decided to open Mommy's Closet as a way to meet some of those needs.

Just four days after opening, Mommy's Closet already had received calls from four people, including a grandmother who unexpectedly took over the care of an infant grandchild. "I hadn't even anticipated that," Field said.

Bank West donated time and supplies to paint and decorate the Mommy's Closet room in the Volunteers of America office. Pooh and Piglet dance across the pale green walls of the room. A bookshelf partially filled with parenting books lines one wall. A cabinet with formula and diapers sits in a corner.

Field has received a number of other donations as well, including one from the employees of the Parkway Restaurant, who gave a portion of their tips from one workday.

But Field needs more items in order to meet the demand. The biggest need so far is for cribs. "Right now, all of the women who have called need cribs," she said.

Other things include clothing, parenting books, diapers, vouchers for formula, vouchers for transportation, personal hygiene products, some toys, playpens and appointment books.

Field recalls giving the book "What to Expect When You Are Expecting" to an expectant teen. The young woman cried. She had been going to Wal-Mart and reading the book off the shelf when she had questions. "These are things you and I take for granted," Field said.

For the moment, Carpio and her daughter Kandice live with her boyfriend and his mother. The young couple hopes to eventually get an apartment.

Whether she will need the help of Mommy's Closet again remains to be seen, but Carpio says the help and support meant a great deal and made the entire experience a bit easier.

You can help with donations

Mommy's Closet opened in the Volunteers of America office at 24 East New York St. on March 3. It serves expectant and teen mothers, providing everything from transportation vouchers to diapers. To find out how to donate items or how to use Mommy's Closet, call Betty Field at 209-7331.

Here are some of the donation items Mommy's Closet is seeking. Mommy's Closet will accept used or new items.

Cribs (the biggest need)

Diapers

Vouchers for formula

Some toys

Personal hygiene products

Baby clothes

Maternity clothes

Parenting books

Playpens

Transportation vouchers

Baby blankets

Any other baby items that will "support positive parenting"

Contact Lynn Taylor Rick at 394-8414 or lynn.taylorrick@rapidcityjournal.com.