Thanks to HFL Grants, More Than 100 Car Seats Are Available for Free to La Porte County Residents

Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) recently awarded two grants to meet the community need for car seats. Ranging from infant-size car seats to five-point harness combo seats, the car seats are now available for free for those in need. Two local partners, the La Porte County Health Department and the City of La Porte Fire Department, received a total of 118 car seats between them to distribute as needed. HFL funded nearly $10,000 to these two entities to purchase the car seats from Evenflo.

With the funding from HFL, La Porte County Health Department was able to purchase 60 car seats. The City of La Porte Fire Department purchased 58.

“We are extremely excited and appreciative to receive these funds from HFL,” shared Chief Andy Snyder, City of La Porte Fire Department. “Our Car Safety Seat program has been a huge success to help provide new parents with a safe travel environment for their children. Unfortunately, due to the limited funding sources we’ve had in the past we’ve had minimal inventory of the safety seats to distribute. This funding will allow us the ability to honor all applicable requests for the foreseeable future and grow the program to its full potential.”

In addition to providing free car seats, both entities also serve as child safety seat check inspection stations. The City of La Porte Fire Department car seat location is La Porte Fire Station 1, 809 W. 18th Street, La Porte (219.362.3456). The La Porte County Health Department’s site is located at Franciscan Health Michigan City Homer Street Campus, 301 W. Homer Street, Michigan City (219.874.5611, ext. 2438). Anyone with a child in a child safety restraint seat can make an appointment at either location to have a seat checked by a nationally certified technician. The technician will evaluate the child in the seat and the seat in the vehicle, ensuring the seat is properly restrained for a safe ride, every ride. Any Indiana resident can receive seat checks and replacement seats.

Maria Fruth, HFL President and CEO, stated, “The health and safety of La Porte County’s children has been one of HFL’s greatest priorities since the foundation’s inception. Car seats are key to keeping children safe, and many families struggle to purchase needed seats. HFL is excited to be partnering with the La Porte County Health Department and the City of La Porte Fire Department to meet this important need in our community.”

Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL), a private, independent foundation located in La Porte, Indiana, is dedicated to empowering La Porte County residents to live healthy and well. Since 2017, HFL has invested more than $41 million in the La Porte County community. Through strategic and thought leadership, grantmaking, and capacity building, HFL aims to further the foundation’s vision for La Porte to be one of the 10 healthiest communities in Indiana by 2030. HFL also offers its state-of-the-art Conference & Learning Center free of charge for nonprofit organizations, government entities, and schools.

To learn more about HFL and its grantmaking, visit hflaporte.org, call 219.326.2471, or email contact@hflaporte.org.