Cheryl Tallman (right), founder and CEO of Fresh Baby, donated 72 children’s dinnerware sets to the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRCNM) and Safe Home, as well as a contribution of $1,000. Pictured unpacking the sets are Fresh Baby staff members (from left) Kelsey Crawford; Cindy Hall; Sherry Duntley; Jamie Winters, Safe Home coordinator; Becky Doan; Kim McQuistion, Safe Home child advocate; Chris Krajewski, WRCNM domestic abuse and sexual assault program director; and Tallman.

As founder and CEO of Fresh Baby, Cheryl Tallman has reached out to parents with simple and practical tips, recipes and products to help raise healthier children and prevent childhood obesity. Tallman’s recent donation of 72 dinnerware sets and $1,000 to the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan’s (WRCNM) Safe Home represents an extension of her daily work over the past 12 years.

“I know the Women’s Resource Center wants kids to have a healthy and safe environment which is well-aligned with the goals of Fresh Baby,” said Tallman. Last year, the Safe Home provided 2,926 nights of shelter and more than 8,700 meals to 140 women and children seeking refuge from domestic abuse. An additional 438 individuals not residing at the Safe Home also utilized support, counseling and advocacy services. All domestic abuse services through the WRCNM are provided to survivors at no cost.

Tallman’s Petoskey-based company focuses on developing healthy eating habits in young children and combating childhood obesity. The donated six-piece MyPlate Dinnerware sets, designed and developed by Tallman, encourage healthy eating with a plate divided into four sections to represent the proper portion sizes of fruits, vegetables, protein and grains that children ages three to five should eat at mealtimes. The set also includes a four ounce drinking cup sized for small hands, a three-piece cutlery set and an easy-clean placemat that features engaging activities. Tallman said the MyPlate Dinnerware was modeled after the USDA MyPlate program which encourages building a healthy plate.

To learn more about the Fresh Baby line of products, contact the company at (231) 348-2706 or visit freshbaby.com. For more information about WRCNM programs and services, call the main office at (231) 347-0067 or visit wrcnm.org. The WRCNM’s crisis and information lines are available 24-hours a day at (231) 347-0082 or (800) 275-1995.