Hively's mission is to provide resources that strengthen and support children and their families throughout Alameda county. The Pleasanton-based nonprofit provides holistic support and services to strengthen families by providing child care subsidies for CalWORKs recipients, parent education classes to support healthy home environments, and family-strengthening classes to support the parent-child bond. Hively also offers affordable mental health services on a sliding-fee scale.

In April, the nonprofit opened a new Family Resource Center (HFRC) in Dublin. The center provides a host of resources under one roof for maximum convenience. The Community Closet provides new and gently used clothing, shoes, books, and housewares. The Food Pantry provides food and other basic necessities free of charge to all families in need. The Diaper Pantry provides diapers and wipes on a monthly basis, at no cost, to families that qualify. The HFRC is open on Wednesdays from 11 am to 7 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to noon.
 
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new center, Hively Board of Directors Chair Ryan Duncan Anderson noted the importance of the support Hively offers local families. "Parenting is so hard; Hively's job is to make it a little easier. If a parent is struggling and needs help, they can come get clothing, food, advice, and resources."

At the event, Interim CEO Mary Hekl lauded the community for its role in launching the new HFRC. "Hively is grateful for the partnership and funding from the City of Pleasanton, the City of Dublin, and our generous community donors who help make the Hively Family Resource Center possible. This is a community effort. Volunteers from the Tri-Valley area provide customer service, sort donations, and restock food. All of this enables families to choose what they want and take what they need for a dignified shopping experience."

This month Hekl was appointed as Hively's permanent Chief Executive Officer after five months in the interim role. She has 20 years of experience leading people-focused human resource teams, primarily at Google, as well as at Ellie Mae and Zymergen. Hekl also served on the Hively Board of Directors for four years and served for one year as its Board Chair. Hekl holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and a BA from Tulane University. At the beginning of this month, Candida "Candy" Duperroir joined Hively as the new Director of Community Services and Education. Duperroir has 23 years of experience at sister organization CocoKids, which offers child care resource and referral services in Contra Costa county. 

"I am thrilled to lead the Hively team as we work to expand our core services in three distinct areas," says Hekl. "First, greatly increase the number of families and providers that we help with services such as child care subsidies, educational programs, and referrals to essential services that allow families to thrive. Second, continue to support Tri-Valley residents with food, clothing, housewares, and other items through our Hively Family Resource Center in Dublin. Third, become a leading provider of mental health services beyond our current San Leandro location by adding Tri-Valley and Oakland as well as pilot creative ways to improve mental health. The ultimate goal is to increase access, availability, and affordability of mental health services and resources."

Over the past year, Hively served over 2,000 local families and children seeking child care referrals and 975 child care providers, according to Karen Brace, Communications Specialist. "We are fueled by our passion for strengthening thousands of families, regardless of ability to pay. While the pandemic threatened the very existence of many child care businesses, we were ready to answer this challenge by offering extra support to child care providers and local families, from masks and gloves to additional subsidies. California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan recognized our outstanding work during the pandemic and awarded Hively with a California Nonprofit-of-the-Year Award in 2020."

For more information about Hively, including details on access to child care resources, referrals, financial assistance, and help paying for childcare for those who have received cash aid over the last two years, please visit behively.org.