Nana Baby Children’s Home will host its fourth annual “Tunes and Tacos Throw Down” fundraiser on Nov. 8 at Magens Bay to raise funds for ongoing programs and future expansion.
Nana Baby Children’s Home, founded in 1989, is the only 24-hour emergency placement group home on St. Thomas. It provides immediate shelter, meals, medical care, and emotional support to children from birth to 12 years old, accepting placements at any time through the Human Services Department, according to their website.
Proceeds from the event will help fund programs for children and support the launch of a new program for teenagers.
“All of the funding comes directly back to Nana Baby,” said Darian Torrice-Hairston, executive director of Nana Baby Children’s Home. “This year’s event is helping us establish a second program for teenagers, as there are currently no group homes for teens on St. Thomas.”
This new program comes as Nana Baby Home prepares to move its current residents into a larger, government-purchased house within the next three to six months. The move will allow the organization to convert its existing facility into a group home for teenagers, a population Torrice-Hairston stressed is underserved on St. Thomas.
“We are a zero to 12 organization. However, we’re consistently asked to provide a home to teenagers as well, because there are no homes for teenagers on St. Thomas,” Torrice-Hairston said. She added that while this task is necessary, it is not ideal. “It’s not usually an appropriate placement setting, because our program is designed for younger children.”
Torrice-Hairston said the new program will serve youth ages 13 to 18, providing a safe place for teens in crisis, those experiencing homelessness, or those who have been abused or neglected.
“There’s just no group homes for teenagers on St. Thomas,” Torrice-Hairston said. “There are two places on St. Croix for teenagers, but they’re small and have their own stipulations.”
The lack of local resources means that, in some cases, teenagers are sent to the states to find care. “Sometimes, kids get sent to the states if there’s no other opportunities,” Torrice-Hairston said, noting that the transition can be especially difficult and turbulent for young people who are already facing instability.
By opening a group home for teenagers on St. Thomas, Nana Baby Home plans to expand its support for youth in the community. “We want to do the same thing we’re doing for the little kids, for our older kids,” Torrice-Hairston said.
The new program will help teens navigate the challenges of adolescence and prepare for adulthood. Torrice-Hairston said many teenagers in care end up “aging out” of the system without a stable place to go or the skills they need to succeed.
“What we’ll be able to do is help them through that process — learn about budgeting, graduate high school, learn about job opportunities, whether it’s college, trade school, or apartments,” she said. “We’ll build that into our support system for them.”
Torrice-Hairston said the goal is to provide stability and guidance at a critical time in a young person’s life, ensuring they have the resources and support to build a successful future.
The new program for 13 to 18-year-olds isn’t the only welcome change to the fundraising event this year, as the fourth annual “Tunes and Tacos Throw Down” will also debut a new taco category: dessert, adding a sweet twist to the traditional lineup.
Attendees will sample meat, fish, vegetarian and dessert tacos, as well as margaritas, and vote for their favorites. Both competitions will be judged blind, with cash prizes and trophies awarded to the top entries.
Live music will be featured throughout the noon-to-5 p.m. event, with performances by local acts including DubLab Reggae Band and The Eljhaie Brathwaite Project.
“You can definitely expect to hear awesome music,” Torrice-Hairston said. “It’s really meant to be interactive and positive. We’ve had three successful events, and we’re hoping the fourth is even bigger and better.”
The event will also feature a silent auction, with items donated by local businesses such as hotel stays and charters.
She encouraged local chefs, restaurants, and home cooks to enter the competitions, and noted there are still opportunities for volunteers, vendors, and sponsors. Those interested in competing, volunteering, sponsoring, or becoming a vendor can find more information and sign-up links on the events tab on the Nana Baby Home website.
Torrice-Hairston encouraged the community to show their support by participating in the event. “We hear a lot throughout the year, ‘How can I help? What can I do?’ And it’s not easy to answer, because what we do is a very specific task. But this is a really easy way to support the home. Every volunteer counts, every single patron or community member that comes counts. It all just adds to the success of what we’re doing, so it’s a really easy and direct way to support the kids.”
St. Croix Source
Local news
