Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Lewis.
Hi Kim, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Thank you for this opportunity!
I am the oldest of 3, My dad was my high school principal and my mom was an elementary school teacher. Our family was either working at school, doing homework, or serving at church or somewhere else in our community. My parents were always working hard to make our little community stronger and better.
My dad would be at the high school, where he was principal, running an industrial polisher over the floors, and my mom would literally be scouring the roads and ditches of our little town, picking up trash to make it prettier! They were relentless in wanting to make education and life BETTER for those around them.
In 1991, I married and moved to Cartersville, GA. As a person of faith, I was soon looking for meaningful ways I could invest in and serve my new community.
Fast forward to 1998….I was invited to become a board member at the Bartow County Women’s Resource Center, which was located right across the street from our church. I had no idea what the needs were in our community, but quickly realized that there were dozens of at-risk single moms within walking distance of our doors. The BCWRC existed to serve single moms who were pregnant or had little ones and who needed help with things like diapers, wipes, baby formula, clothing, etc. I soon saw the many OTHER needs that were being met at this little center.
As a board member, I became invested and wanted to know how to help at a deeper level. I served on the board for 10 years and in 2013, was invited to join the staff.
I was hired to be the parenting educator and help new moms navigate their parenting journey. Pretty soon, we saw the need to invite dads into this space and renamed our center Bartow Family Resources.
This began our journey to explore how we could best serve the at-risk families in our area who were pregnant or had a little one. Here were the interesting things I began to see…
1. These single moms were not “those people”, they had the same hopes and dreams for their family that I did.
2. There were numerous gaps in service despite the many efforts in our community to help these moms and families.
3. There were far more families in need with infants than I had ever imagined, many of whom were living in hotels
4. Generational poverty and incarceration was playing a tremendous role in the needs we saw.
5. Georgia had a huge problem with maternal and infant mortality.
These are just a few of the things we identified as we worked to create a more robust program to help break cycles and empower these families to become healthy.
After 5 years and a new building, we had grown the parenting program from 200 client visits a month to nearly 500! The success and impact of the program was becoming evident. As we walked beside parents 3, 4 and up to 5 years, we were seeing them achieve goals, improve their parenting, and make core changes that were reshaping the trajectory of their lives and families. It was SO rewarding to serve these families and champion this program.
In 2018, I was asked by the then board chair to “consider a new role as executive director”, to which I quickly responded “NO!” I loved my role educating and cheering on these precious parents and their babies and did not want to make that organizational move….but 6 months later, I caved.
Since then, it has been a tremendous joy to lead our organization to exciting new heights. We served families over 6,300 times in 2024 and have added many additional services in recent years. In 2017 we added a pregnancy medical clinic where all our services are free. Since then, we have added a medical mobile unit which serves in Calhoun, Marietta and Mableton. We have added STD testing and treatment, along with pelvic exams, all free of charge.
We are an incredible resource for pregnant moms and families with newborns or little ones. Our baby boutique is a special place where families earn the items they need for their tiny new additions without having to pay out of pocket. Our pregnancy medical clinic is a place where they can receive free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, pelvic exams, and STD testing and treatment.
What’s even better is the client feedback we receive….”They truly care and want to help anyway they can.”
“Everyone was helpful, kind, and considerate.”
“They make you feel comfortable.”
“Kind and caring and really listen.”
“I feel like they truly care about me as a person. They heard me and seen me when I felt invisible.”
“Feeling like a person not a number.”
This is the BEST job in the world because it is not a job, it is a JOY, and an opportunity to serve the community I love!
We are thrilled to be giving over 2.5 million in goods and services back into the communities we serve each year, and THAT is a blessing!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No! It has not been easy. It is a struggle to listen to difficult stories every day and try to find solutions and answers often times when there is NO easy answer. Moms and Dads are suffering and dealing with consequences of their choices or often of the poor choices of others….but, it is a blessing to offer them hope and help in a caring and loving environment where they are treated like family, and not a number.
Housing, transportation, education, job security, abuse, trafficking, adoption, mental health and stability are just a few of the challenges our clients deal with and we face every week…..sometimes daily.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We specialize in loving and serving families who are pregnant or have a little one. Our focus is around parenting education and material items as well as medical services as it relates to pregnancy and sexual health. We are known for being a safe place, a place where you are treated like family, not a project or a number.
I am most proud of the progress we have seen in families/moms and dads that have broken unhealthy family cycles, become better parents, gotten their GED, achieved other educational goals, started their own business, bought their own vehicle or home, or pursued their dreams. Sometimes, all it takes is having someone to believe in you!
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Playing with my siblings. Swimming with friends during the summer at our community pool. Family Christmas at my grandparents house in the country. It was always magical!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bartowfamilies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bartowfamilyresources/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartowFamilyResources/
Image Credits
Kim Lewis, Myself with newborn
Staff with Mobile Unit
Staff in front of building
Client with Danielle Burlison who runs our BFR Parenting Academy
