Emergency Infant Services

Our mission is to meet the basic needs of infants and young children whose families are in crisis. Every family in our community facing hardships receives immediate help because a child in need cannot wait.

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What is eis?

Emergency Infant Services, commonly known as EIS, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers assistance with basic needs items for children 5 years old and under whose families are facing financial and personal challenges. We respect all who walk through our doors, offering same-day services, regardless of income or residency status. Our top priority is providing accessible, immediate help because a hungry child cannot wait.

Our Services

EIS offers basic needs items like diapers, wipes, formula, food, clothing, and other essentials. In addition, our team works with a network of partner agencies and organizations to connect families with the resources they need, even if EIS does not offer those services. Through our unique one-on-one interview process, each family is given the opportunity to share their needs and questions with someone from our team. This process allows us a deeper understanding of each family’s specific situation and how we can help.

For more information about what we do and how it works, check out our services page.

Our Purpose

There is no doubt that Tulsa is home to thousands of little ones who need the kind of help that EIS offers. In fact, over 30% of children under 6 years old live below the poverty line. That means there are nearly 14,000 little ones in our community who could benefit from the services EIS offers. Over the years, our organization has grown, reaching more children than ever before; however, there are still families in our city who are unaware of our services. With the help of our supporters near and far, we continue to expand our reach and lessen the impact poverty has on Tulsa’s littlest in need.

Get involved

With just 15 people on staff, our small team relies heavily on our community for support. Without our dedicated volunteers, generous donors, and thousands of supporters near and far who passionately advocate for our cause, EIS simply would not exist.

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Volunteer

Our team couldn’t do it alone - it currently takes around 20,000 volunteer hours each year to keep our organization running. With the help of our extensive network of supporters, our team is able to maintain our current operations and plan for future growth.

Interested in becoming part of our community? Check out our volunteer page to learn more about how to apply!

Donate

Every dollar or diaper donated helps #fillthecarts for families in our community. EIS is not a government funded organization; rather, we rely solely on the generosity of donors for the supplies and resources needed by the families we help. Visit our donate page to learn about the different ways to give! In addition, our Lifesaver Giving Club is a great way to make a lasting difference!

Advocate

Volunteering and donating aren’t the only ways to support a cause you believe in. Simply sharing our social media posts or telling your friends and family about the EIS mission could connect a family in need with our organization!

Our story

Since opening our doors in 1977, EIS has had four homes, dozens of teammates and partners, and thousands of volunteers that make the magic happen. Just about the only thing that has not changed is our mission.

A history of helping

Emergency Infant Services began helping Tulsa area families on January 1, 1977. Through the care, foresight, and commitment of Linda Watts and other Tulsa leaders, the idea of EIS was conceived and brought to reality. EIS began in the balcony of Second Presbyterian Church and has continued to grow and meet the needs of Tulsa families.

Through multiple moves, and numerous challenges, EIS has continued to grow both in size and in the services we offer. The number of families served has increased steadily over decades and we continue to work diligently on plans for additional growth.

a bright Future

In November of 2019, the EIS team said goodbye to the modest little building that we called home for more than a decade and moved into our new facility at 1110 South Denver Avenue. From the increased size and thoughtful design, to the close proximity to our city’s bus route, everything about our new home fits our ever-growing organization and the needs of the families we help.

Our first year in the building was both beautiful and challenging. Our team was put to the test as we navigated through the pandemic. As in any other year, our volunteers were instrumental in keeping our doors open, and they went above and beyond for the smallest, most vulnerable members of our community.

With the perseverance of our team, the fresh ideas of our interns, the wisdom and guidance of our board of directors, the dedication of our volunteers, and the support of our community, we are optimistic about the future of our organization and the children we are here to serve. Even through the most strenuous challenges, EIS will continue to increase our reach and be a source of comfort and support for even more families than ever.

Past Executive Director, co-founder, and longtime volunteer, Linda Watts, in the early days at Second Presbyterian Church.

Past Executive Director, co-founder, and longtime volunteer, Linda Watts, in the early days at Second Presbyterian Church.

Current Executive Director, Bill Andoe, collecting donations during our 2020 Citywide events.

Current Executive Director, Bill Andoe, collecting donations during our 2020 Citywide events.