My husband, Ron, and I started Morgan’s Purpose after we lost our daughter Morgan at 39 weeks. She was stillborn.

I have been pregnant eight times and have four living children, so this organization is very close to my heart. It’s a way to keep the memory of my babies alive while helping others that go through the same loss.

I came to Allen around the age of ten, I believe, and started school here shortly after. We lived in a house on Hwy 1 for several years. When I graduated, I couldn’t get away from here fast enough. Fast forward a few years. I met the guy I would marry and came back home. Our home church is here. It’s where we got married and both my oldest daughter and husband were saved. My oldest started school here and love it. When we lost Morgan, her funeral was here and she was buried here. So to say this place literally has a piece of my heart would be an understatement.

Morgan’s Purpose recently had a Walk to Remember at Wintersmith Park in Ada. My mom talked me into asking for help with this event this year and this little town showed up. The majority of the volunteers were from Allen, Oklahoma as well as the donations we received for the event. I just can’t begin to express how grateful I am. The more I started thinking about it, the more I realized that the majority of our donors come from our small town as well, people who know our family and Morgan’s story. I just want to say “Thank You” from the bottom of my heart.

We have sent support boxes to families all over the United States and donated caring cradles to three different hospitals because of the people who have donated their hard-earned money.

For our Walk, Jennifer Caldwell at the Allen Food Center donated hot dogs for us to sell and earn money. Danielle O’Daniel wrote an article that was published in several local papers. She took pictures at the event for no charge and donated pork for the concession as well. Mario and Noemi Gonzalez and Maria Roniss made pulled pork sandwiches and chili for the event as well as ran the concession area. They charged me nothing. Stephen and Brandi Pilant donated all the chips for the event as well as volunteering their time at the event. Kyla Wade donated her time doing face painting for kids. Steve Hall, Allen First Baptist pastor, volunteered his time to speak words of encouragement and pray for the families attending the event. Jimmie and Carrie Koonce showed up to the event with the cutest crocheted animals that families absolutely loved. Taylor and Cameron Batey, Hunter Pollock and Emma Tomb, as well as Maggie Cooper and Alleigh Horton, all volunteered their time to hel0 us set up and work the event.

And my family, also from Allen, Jeff Ray, David Fisher, Stephanie Fisher, Jessica Cooper and Curt Cooper, all donated their time. And last but definitely not least, my mom, Julie Ray, helped me put the event together as well as donated a trip to Branson that was raffled off with the proceeds going to Morgan’s Purpose.

To all that were mentioned and hopefully none that I forgot, “Thank You.” Allen may be a small town, but it has a big heart. ~ Jill Batey