Thanks to stay-at-home mom Destiny Ivey, Royal Palm Beach now boasts a bustling community hub where mothers can drop off stuff they no longer need, while others can come in and scoop up free clothes, children’s items, and even food and diapers.
“Helping One Nugget at a Time” was conceived earlier this year when Ivey’s firstborn, Colton, was four months old.
“As a new mom, I was shocked how fast he grew out of baby clothes,” she said. “We had a yard sale, and there was so much left over, quality stuff, and I wanted a better option than Goodwill. I called a friend who was also wondering what to do with no-longer-needed baby clothes.”
That’s when Ivey had her “aha” moment, and “Nugget” was born.
The name comes from the first time Ivey saw an ultrasound of Colton. “He looked exactly like a comfortable little nugget in there, so the term has become endearing in my household,” she explained.
The program gained rapid popularity among the community of new moms in Royal Palm Beach. All the action starts at the Facebook group, “Helping One Nugget at a Time,” where available items are posted and given away on a first-come, first-served basis. More than 2,000 items have been placed, absolutely free, into local homes.
“I’m so grateful for Colton, and the roof over my head, and that we can afford baby clothes and food,” Ivey said. “I just want to help folks who haven’t had the good fortune that I enjoy.”
“Destiny makes sure that everyone who needs something for their babies gets it. She is amazing,” Dazie Owens of Loxahatchee said.
Royal Palm Beach resident Christine Wilders Carpenter agreed.
“Helping One Nugget at a Time has been a blessing to me and my family,” she said. “We have not only been a receiver, we have been able to donate as our grandchildren outgrow their clothes and toys. I have many friends that are now a part of this group who are receiving the blessing as well.”
Ivey grew up in Royal Palm Beach. She attended Cypress Trails Elementary School, Crestwood Middle School and Seminole Ridge High School. An outstanding athlete, she played travel soccer for the Royal Palm Beach Strikers from the age of 7 until about 17, when she was sidelined by an injury. She worked in the local hospitality industry, but when Colton was born, she became a stay-at-home mom.
“As a stay-at-home mom to an 8-month-old, I understand the financial challenges of baby essentials. That’s why I established ‘Helping One Nugget at a Time.’ We’re dedicated to assisting families with babies, toddlers, teens and your loved ones. From diapers to clothes to toys, we’re collecting it all!” she explained.
The moms’ community has turned out in droves. One woman anonymously delivers 20 boxes of cereal at a time. A local neonatal nurse just posted on the site about needing weighted blankets, and several mothers responded within minutes. Grandmothers are also participating.
“I am a licensed day care provider, and one of my moms has a preemie (surviving twin) who is on special formula, and because of this group, I was able to get two containers of formula for her son,” Mary Kaye Packard said, thanking Ivey for her work with the group.
Alexa Murphy is Ivey’s partner in doing good. “Our kids are the same age and hang out together while Destiny and I sort donations and makes posts,” Murphy said. “I’m an admin for the site and here almost every day.”
She is shocked how quickly things have taken off and how far the program has expanded. “We started with baby clothes, and now people donate everything from baby furniture to wall hangings,” Murphy said.
“We had someone donate a washer and dryer one day,” Ivey added. “We had 25 requests for it within 15 minutes of putting the item on our page.”
What about leftover items? “There aren’t any. We screen donations, and once in our system, we keep it available,” Ivey said, pointing out a like-new green children’s lamp with a frog imprinted on it. “We’ve had this cute thing since the beginning. I’m not sure why it’s still here, but I’ll advertise it until someone can make good use of it in their home.”
Donation boxes are clearly labeled on the covered front porch, and up to 50 people a day come by to donate or pick up. Vanessa Quigley and her daughter Aurora stop by mostly to donate and pick up items to help others.
“Today, I’m picking up food and clothes to help a woman I know who has seven kids,” she said, as she arrived and left inside of two minutes.
As their children Colton and Ryder play with each other, Ivey and Murphy sort donations. Asked whether the program might ever become too popular, Ivey scoffed at the idea.
“The more the merrier. I just keep thinking how hard it would be to be a single mom in this expensive community,” she said. “I keep thinking how it could be me and my baby in dire need, so I am so grateful we can do a little to help moms out… one little nugget at a time.”
To get involved, search Facebook for “Helping One Nugget at a Time.”
