As economic pressures increase and federal assistance programs decrease across the region, Viola’s House is launching a new mobile care unit designed to deliver diapers, counseling and essential support directly to mothers throughout the DMV region at large.
The Dallas-based nonprofit introduced a new Baltimore maternity home during the “Love Rules Baltimore” event on Nov. 12, with plans to expand beyond Charm City.
“Our mobile unit is a social service agency on wheels,” Thana Hickman, founder of Viola’s House, told The Informer. “It can serve 100 to 150 mothers a day with diapers, clothing, baby gear and mental health resources. We can go wherever the need is — D.C., Prince George’s County, Montgomery County or Northern Virginia — and meet moms exactly where they are.”
The mobile unit operates within a 200-mile radius and is staffed by community health workers who help families navigate local programs related to housing, health care and education.
Hickman said the model is intended to close long-standing access gaps for mothers facing barriers such as transportation limitations, child care challenges or safety concerns.
Having operated in Dallas for 10 years, Viola’s House offers maternity housing, postpartum support and large-scale diaper distribution. The organization manufactures its own eco-friendly bamboo diapers, free from chemicals and parabens, distributing more than 7 million nationwide last year.
“We wanted to create a diaper for the community because our community deserves the best,” Hickman said. “If a mom can’t get to Target, we’ll bring Target to her.”
The newly opened Baltimore home will function as the regional hub for the organization’s operations. It will provide residential services for pregnant women and young mothers experiencing homelessness or financial instability. Hickman emphasized that the mission extends beyond housing, with a focus on education, therapy and faith-based support.
“Every pack of diapers we hand out means a mother can redirect that money to food or rent,” Hickman said. “That’s how real impact happens — when people have the freedom to breathe.”
Baltimore native Adrienne “Gammy” Banfield-Norris, co-host of Red Table Talk, played an instrumental role in bringing Viola’s House to the community after visiting the Dallas location.
“So excited about the opening of Viola’s House Baltimore. With the state of our nation, it is more important than ever to come together and support young women and children in our community,” said Banfield Norris, who is also the proud mother to Jada Pinkett Smith. “I was a teen mom so this project is near and dear to my heart. I know Thana personally. I know her work at Viola’s House Dallas and look forward to working with the team here in Baltimore.”
Ensuring DMV Families Have Access to Resources
At a time when many DMV families report delays or denials in SNAP and other safety-net programs, Viola’s House presents a grassroots model that blends faith and practical support.
“We’re not waiting for policy,” Hickman said. “We’re moving with purpose. Our mobile unit gives us the freedom to go where we’re needed most.”
Regional maternal health advocates, such as Mariah Barnette of Mamatoto Village — a D.C.-based nonprofit serving Black mothers and families — say the expansion of Viola House arrives at a crucial moment for the DMV.
“Viola’s House stepping into this region shows what it looks like when organizations are willing to meet families exactly where they are,” said Barnette, director of communications at Mamatoto Village. “In places like Washington, D.C.’s Wards 7 and 8, communities that have long been health care deserts, a mobile unit isn’t just innovative, it’s essential.”
For Mamatoto Village, collaborating with Viola’s House offers the District-based organization the opportunity to further their work and expand access for families facing systemic inequities and limited transportation options.
“At Mamatoto Village, we take a partnership-based approach with our clients, which means we are walking alongside them to ensure they have what they need to navigate pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenting with confidence,” Barnette told The Informer. “Viola’s House is modeling that same commitment. Families shouldn’t have to choose between getting care and managing their daily needs.”
For more information on donations, volunteer opportunities or partnerships, go to violashouse.org and select the Maryland link.