“Our phones [are] ringing off the hook. We’re getting more calls than we ever have before,” said Dianne Mueller, CEO of St. Louis Crisis Nursery.

Mueller says she has been on the front lines of child abuse prevention and outreach in St. Louis for decades.

“We started with just seven beds at what was called Deaconess Hospital,” said Mueller.

Mueller says the nursery helps 7,000 local children every year. There are five crisis nursery locations and seven outreach centers.

The nursery provides a safe place for kids when their families are in crisis. The nursery is open 24/7 every day of the year and is free of charge.

“Just yesterday we had a young mother that called that said she had been feeding her baby water because she was out of formula,” said Mueller.

According to Mueller, the nursery’s approach is working with families to address their immediate need.

“We empower these families to figure out how to turn life around,” said Mueller.

But Mueller says the violence in St. Louis and around the world is taking its toll.

“Many times what the parents will say is we just need a break. We just need our kids to be safe. We need for them to be able to play outside. It’s going to make me cry and not have to worry that they’re going to be harmed,” said Mueller.

Mueller says artwork is to be displayed at the nursery’s birthday celebration. The artwork reflects the plea for peace.

“It’s scary for them [the kids] and they want to know that the big people, the adults in this world, are tuning in and doing something to make this world safer,” said Mueller.

If you would like to do something to make St. Louis safer for babies, the call for volunteers and donations is always open at the nursery.

KMOV-TV © July 2016