Crittenton Centers Celebrates 100,000 Crisis Nursery Admissions with Baby Brunch

Annual fundraiser supports essential items for local families in need

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:48am

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A blurred, intimate photograph of a mother and child in a tender embrace, conveying the nurturing and supportive atmosphere of the Crittenton Centers' Baby Brunch event.The Crittenton Centers' annual Baby Brunch celebrates the organization's vital work supporting families in need with essential resources and a sense of community.Peoria Today

The Crittenton Centers, a nonprofit organization serving central Illinois since 1892, is hosting its annual Baby Brunch event on May 1st to celebrate reaching 100,000 admissions to its Crisis Nursery program since 1980. The brunch will cap off the organization's month-long Community Care Drive, which collects essential items like formula, wipes, and diapers to distribute to local families in need.

Why it matters

The Crittenton Centers plays a vital role in supporting vulnerable families in the Tri-County area, providing crisis childcare, parenting resources, and emergency supplies. The Baby Brunch fundraiser helps ensure the organization can continue meeting the evolving needs of the community and maintain its 130-year legacy of protecting and nurturing children.

The details

The Baby Brunch event will feature a menu of quiches, salads, and a signature drink, as well as games, raffles, and prizes. Tickets are $75 per person or $600 for a table of 10. All proceeds will go towards the Crittenton Centers' efforts to provide families with essential items like formula, wipes, and diapers, which the organization estimates spending $70,000 to $75,000 on annually to meet unbudgeted needs.

  • The Crittenton Centers Crisis Nursery opened in 1980.
  • The Crittenton Centers has served 100,000 admissions to its Crisis Nursery since 1980.
  • The Baby Brunch event will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 11:30 a.m.

The players

Crittenton Centers

A nonprofit organization that has been protecting and nurturing children and families in central Illinois since 1892. The organization operates a Crisis Nursery and provides various family support services.

Brent Oest

The development director at the Crittenton Centers, who likens the Baby Brunch and Community Care Drive to a 'community baby shower' to support local families.

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What they’re saying

“That's really what Baby Brunch and the Crittenton Community Care Drive is. It's the chance to make a difference with families in our own backyard.”

— Brent Oest, Development Director, Crittenton Centers

“It's good to have items on hand when families need them. Those are items like formula, wipes and diapers. Crittenton spends $70-$75 thousand a year on unbudgeted items like that, just so our families have that peace of mind, and we can help them over the hump.”

— Brent Oest, Development Director, Crittenton Centers

What’s next

Tickets for the Crittenton Centers Baby Brunch on May 1st are available for purchase online at the organization's website.

The takeaway

The Crittenton Centers' Baby Brunch and Community Care Drive demonstrate the organization's longstanding commitment to supporting vulnerable families in central Illinois, providing essential resources and celebrating the milestone of 100,000 admissions to its Crisis Nursery program.