Despite being headquartered in Carmi since 1918, many locals continue to remain in the dark as to just what Baptist Childrens Home and Family Services does. Melissa Pollard, of BCHFS, aimed to shed some light on the organization at Carmi Kiwanis Thursday. Originally opened as an orphanage near the conclusion of World War I and the onset of the Spanish Flu pandemic, BCHFS has evolved over the years and now focuses on a five ministry mission. Those include the youth services home on campus in Carmi, Faith Adoption, Pathways Counseling, GraceHaven Pregnancy Resource Clinic, and Angels’ Cove Maternity Home, the latter two operating out of Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Pollard says BCHFS served more than 600 individuals in the last year. That includes 10 current children who reside in Carmi, 38 couples and 20 birth moms in adoption services, more than 2,700 counseling sessions conducted through Pathways 13 locations, and 11 mothers along with their children at Angels’ Cove.
BCHFS employs somewhere around three dozen and works throughout the state and in some cases beyond state lines. The non-profit functions entirely without government funding.
We do not accept federal or state funding on purpose so that we can share Jesus openly with each and every person that we serve. If we did take money from them, we’d have to abide by different state laws so we prefer to share Jesus. Our mission is to strengthen families across Illinois by sharing hope in Christ. We’re funded through churches, individuals, businesses, and estate planning.
Pollard says operating demands a $4 million dollar budget.
Somebody with wisdom years ago had the idea of doing an endowment and so that has sustained us, a big portion of it, about $1 Million per year. But I will say that’s dwindling down over the years.
Learn much more about the services offered and how you can help by visiting their website at Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services | Christ-centered Services.
In club business, President Luke Sailer offered an exciting insight ahead of the 2026 Corn Day celebration saying the club would be conducting a raffle for a 1937 T Bucket care thanks to the generosity of Tony and Debbie Nelson of Nelson Supply. All we know at the moment is it’s RC blue, but Sailer says details, photos, and how to buy chances were coming soon.