OUR STORY
Helping Mamas was founded in 2014 by Jamie Lackey who envisioned aligning her passion for working in the nonprofit sector with motherhood. The Mission is Connecting helping mamas to mamas needing help.
Modern-day crisis facing mothers: There was no coordinated effort to get baby supplies into the hands of the moms who need them most. Assistance programs like WIC and SNAP don’t allow for the purchase of diapers, wipes, pack n’ plays or car seats.
HMK was opened by Tess Frear in November of 2018
Starting from her garage we are now in a larger office space. HMK supports over 80 agencies East Tennessee agencies. We are the only registered diaper bank within two and half hours of Knoxville.
GET TO KNOW US
Meet our team and our community leadership team
Tess Frear
Executive Director
Tess Frear is the Executive Director of Helping Mamas Knoxville. What began in her garage has grown into a thriving organization now operating out of a dedicated warehouse and office space. Under Tess’s leadership, Helping Mamas Knoxville supports more than 80 partner agencies across East Tennessee and proudly operates as the only registered diaper bank within a two-and-a-half–hour radius of Knoxville. Her vision, passion, and commitment ensure that families in our community receive the essential items and support they deserve.
Carrie Smith
Warehouse Coordinator
Carrie Wilson serves as our Warehouse Manager, ensuring every donated item is properly received, organized and accounted for. She oversees inventory, manages orders, and maintains the data that supports our grant reporting and operational efficiency. Carrie’s attention to detail and commitment to accuracy help keep our warehouse running smoothly so we can serve families effectively.
Brooke Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Brooke Hunt serves as our Volunteer Coordinator, ensuring every volunteer has a meaningful and positive experience at Helping Mamas. She manages scheduling, provides on-site support, and helps maintain a welcoming, organized environment where volunteers can make a real impact. Brooke’s passion for people and community service helps keep our operations running smoothly and our volunteers engaged and appreciated.
Brittany Vaughan
Program Liaison
Brittany Vaughan serves as our dedicated Program Liaison, working closely with more than 80 partner agencies across East Tennessee. She builds and maintains strong relationships, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration so families receive the essential support they need. Brittany helps identify community needs, streamline processes, and ensure Helping Mamas Knoxville is serving families with excellence and compassion.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP TEAM
Terri McGuire, CTFA
Pinnacle Financial Partners
As a Trust and Investment Advisor with Pinnacle Financial Partners, knowing she is helping her clients plan for their future while taking care of today’s needs is what Terri loves best. Similarly, as a Knoxville native, she has watched our community grow, and along with that, seen the continuing growth in the number of those in need. Through volunteer service over the years, and now her work with Helping Mamas, she knows how a little bit of help can go a long way in making a long-term difference in someone’s life.
Jenny Parkhurst, Owner
Jenny Parkhurst Designs
A mother of two busy boys, an artist and interior stylist. Her creative endeavors include previously owning a lifestyle boutique, The Back Porch Mercantile for 12 years, art licensing and design for Creative Coop and her current interior styling business. Jenny is an East Tennessee native and enjoys traveling, gardening and lots of youth sports. Jenny is passionate about mentoring young women and challenging them to realize their full potential.
Michelle Fischer, CEO
VEHLO
A mother of two, a wife, and CEO of a software company, Vehlo. She spent over twenty years in various roles in software companies culminating in her current role as CEO of Knoxville-based Vehlo in 2019. She relocated her family to Knoxville in 2020 and discovered her love of the mountains, creamsicle orange and ‘lake life’. Raised by a strong mother who left an abusive relationship, she knows first hand that it takes a village and is passionate about helping mamas become their best selves.
Gay Miller
Raised in Clearwater, FL, I trained in Radiologic Technology before moving to Knoxville. I built a 40-year health care career at Ft Sanders and East TN Children’s hospitals and retired from an outpatient clinic. As a single mom from when my daughter was three, I experienced the challenges of financial and emotional stress. Now, I’m eager to give back, and I’m excited to join the Advisory Board for Helping Mamas Knoxville to support their mission.
Annette Sydes
As a distinguished Affiliate Broker and REALTOR® since 2015, Annette excels in the residential real estate market. With a Masters in Public Health, it enriches her real estate career, where she guides clients through major life milestones and has a heart to help people. Her Polish roots and upbringing in Buffalo, NY have deeply ingrained a strong sense of community and family values in her. As a devoted wife to David and a proud mother to Annabella, she cherishes family time above all. Annette is deeply committed to making a significant impact in her community, drawing on her own experiences as a mother, she believes in empowering every mama with the support they need to thrive.
Sherry Dial
Northern born and southern raised, Sherry married her longtime college friend, Brent, and together they live in Knoxville with Team Dial: Peyton, Mia, and Christian. She is revolutionizing internal audits by serving product-based small businesses on Shopify. She is a business’s best friend and is excited to boost sales with proven internal audits through her own company, Dial Services, LLC. She loves to read books, eat ice cream, and walk outdoors. Having overcome near-death experiences, she has learned that her purpose is to love and uplift others. She has been blessed with the ability to teach and lead with kindness and understanding, and she knows these gifts are meant to serve those around her.