First Chance for Children

First Chance for Children Because every child deserves a first chance An Overview of FC4C's Services:

Find a service that's right for you and your family. Safe C.R.I.B.S.

A wide range of comprehensive programing designed to support you with your specific parenting needs. Together, we can ensure all children are ready for school, ready for life. Lend and Learn Toy Libraries
A free, fun place where parents can play with their children ages 0-5, interact with other parents, and ask trained staff questions about development or other concerns. Toys are available for che

ck out so families can extend learning and play at home. Baby Bags
Diapers, wipes, hygiene items, and other supplies needed to provide care and comfort to children delivered along with Child development and safety information. Items are available at the First Chance office or through one of our partner programs. Safe C.R.I.B.S., which stands for Community Resources, Infant Beds, and Support, provides infants without a safe place to sleep a pack and play crib. The crib is delivered to the family and is followed by 5 additional home visits focusing on family wellbeing and child safety. Baby U
Baby U is a home visiting program supporting families with their specific parenting needs. Using the Nurturing Parenting and Parents as Teachers models, staff walk alongside families with children prenatally through the first semester of kindergarten providing resources, education, and support. To get involved, give us a call.

💙 Want to Make a Difference for Children and Families? Join Our Board! 💙First Chance for Children is looking for passion...
05/29/2026

💙 Want to Make a Difference for Children and Families? Join Our Board! 💙
First Chance for Children is looking for passionate, caring, and community-minded individuals to join our Board of Directors! For 20 years, we have helped thousands of families across Central Missouri access the resources they need to give their children the best possible start in life. Through our Baby Bags Diaper Bank, Lend & Learn Toy Libraries, Baby U Home Visitation Program, and Safe Cribs Program, we are working every day to ensure children arrive at school ready to learn and succeed.

But we can't do it alone.

We are seeking board members who are willing to share their ideas, talents, connections, and passion for strengthening families. Whether you have experience in business, finance, fundraising, marketing, education, healthcare, human services or simply a heart for helping others, we would love to talk with you.

✨ What does board service look like?
• Attend monthly board meetings
• Help spread awareness of our mission
• Assist with fundraising and community connections
• Provide guidance and leadership
• Be an ambassador for children and families in our community

We are especially interested in adding diverse perspectives. Not sure if board service is right for you? We'd be happy to answer your questions or even invite you to attend a meeting and learn more about what we do. Together, we can ensure every child has a first chance to thrive. 📩 Send us a message or email Gay Litteken at [email protected] to learn more.

Please share this post and help us find our next amazing board members!

🌟We were so honored to be part of the REAL Talk event at Ridgeway Elementary School! Student committee leaders organized...
05/28/2026

🌟We were so honored to be part of the REAL Talk event at Ridgeway Elementary School! Student committee leaders organized their school community to collect over 1,000 items including diapers, gently used toys and children’s books for local families served through First Chance!

In REAL Talk, elementary students write on something they’re passionate about and perform it, much like a Ted Talk.

We have odds and ends on our driveway at 1002 Fay St for free. You never know what you will find!
05/28/2026

We have odds and ends on our driveway at 1002 Fay St for free. You never know what you will find!

Just a sneak peek.... lots of work has been done! More work to do. Big thank you to all of the hard workers from VU and...
05/27/2026

Just a sneak peek.... lots of work has been done! More work to do. Big thank you to all of the hard workers from VU and Veterans United Foundation !

05/26/2026

Our Period Product Drive is almost over! You have until Sunday, May 31 to drop off your donations of liners, pads, tampons, menstrual cups and period underwear.

Donations will benefit local nonprofits. To find out more about our annual Period Product Drive, please visit dbrl.me/y9

First Chance for Children WILL BE CLOSED THIS WEEK FOR REMODELING. Here we go!!
05/26/2026

First Chance for Children WILL BE CLOSED THIS WEEK FOR REMODELING. Here we go!!

🚗🚙🛻 DRIVE THRU THIS THURSDAY! Families are invited to drive through the First Chance for Children parking lot on Thursda...
05/20/2026

🚗🚙🛻 DRIVE THRU THIS THURSDAY! Families are invited to drive through the First Chance for Children parking lot on Thursday, May 21 from 1-6pm to receive free diapers. This is an additional opportunity for families to receive 1 package of diapers per child in their household.
📍First Chance - 1002 Fay St, Columbia

As First Chance for Children prepares for some exciting building improvements and deep cleaning updates, we will tempora...
05/19/2026

As First Chance for Children prepares for some exciting building improvements and deep cleaning updates, we will temporarily pause accepting most in-kind donations beginning this week through next week due to limited space during construction and organization efforts.

We plan to resume donation collections after June 1st and cannot wait to welcome everyone back into a refreshed and renewed space for families and children. 💛

✨ One Important Exception:
We are still urgently accepting donations of infant formula, as this remains a critical need for many families in our community.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support as we work to make our space even more welcoming for the children and families we serve. Every improvement helps us better serve our community. 💙

📍Formula donations may still be dropped off during regular business hours.

📣 Please Note 📣First Chance for Children will be closed tomorrow, Friday, May 15, for staff training and professional de...
05/14/2026

📣 Please Note 📣

First Chance for Children will be closed tomorrow, Friday, May 15, for staff training and professional development.

Our team is taking time to learn, grow, and strengthen the ways we support children and families in our community. 💙

We will reopen during regular business hours on Monday. Thank you for your understanding and support!

🎉 CALLING ALL FIRST CHANCE FOR CHILDREN ALUMNI! 🎉Did you attend Lend & Learn as a little one?Did your family receive sup...
05/14/2026

🎉 CALLING ALL FIRST CHANCE FOR CHILDREN ALUMNI! 🎉

Did you attend Lend & Learn as a little one?
Did your family receive support through Baby U, Baby Bags, Safe C.R.I.B.S., play groups, home visits, or one of our family programs over the last 20 YEARS?

WE WANT TO FIND YOU! 💛

First Chance for Children is turning 20 and we are planning a BIG CELEBRATION PARTY this September and we want YOU there! 🎂🎈

Whether your child is now in kindergarten, high school, college, or raising babies of their own… we would LOVE to reconnect and celebrate with you!

✨ Tell us where you are now
✨ Share your memories
✨ Help us spread the word far and wide

📣 SHARE THIS POST so we can find ALL of our FC4C families!

🔗 Click here to join our alumni list and get an invitation to the September celebration: https://forms.gle/JmxWp2u5Hg7SnkCo6

Address

1002 Fay Street
Columbia, MO
65201

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 3:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 3:30pm
Thursday 9am - 3:30pm
Friday 9am - 3:30pm

Telephone

+15737771815

Website

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