An Interview with Marco and Bonnie Anasetti
Q: For someone who’s never heard of it, what is Nana Baby Children’s Home?
Marco: Nana Baby is a home for children who are in crisis – plain and simple. It’s a safe place for newborns all the way up to 12-year-olds who need immediate care. Whether that’s because of neglect, abuse, a family emergency, or a natural disaster, the home is there 24/7 to provide love, structure, and safety.
Bonnie: And it’s not just a shelter. It’s a real home. The kind of place where a child walks in scared and leaves feeling safe. There are toys on the floor, home-cooked meals on the table, and people who genuinely care.
Q: What makes it different from other shelters or foster care programs?
Marco: What sets Nana Baby apart is how personal it all is. It’s small on purpose – usually around a dozen kids at a time – so that every child gets individual attention. It doesn’t feel institutional. It feels human. And it’s staffed by people who understand trauma and lead with compassion.
Bonnie: Exactly. There’s a warmth to the place. The staff celebrates birthdays, helps with homework, gardens with the kids, and builds trust. Even though some children arrive in heartbreaking situations, there’s still so much joy inside that house.
Q: How did Nana Baby Children’s Home get started?
Marco: It was founded in 1989 by an incredible woman named Louise Larcheveaux-Ali. Everyone called her “Nana.” She saw a desperate need on the island – kids falling through the cracks – and she created something out of love. After she passed away, her sister and a dedicated board kept it going.
Bonnie: They’ve kept it alive through hurricanes, funding challenges, and growing community needs. It’s been more than 30 years, and it’s still here because the people running it believe in what they’re doing. And now, they’re expanding to meet the demand.
Q: What kind of children come to Nana Baby Home?
Marco: The full range. It might be a newborn brought in straight from the hospital because there’s no safe family situation. Or a 10-year-old whose parent was suddenly hospitalized or arrested. The common thread is that they all need immediate safety, support, and love.
Bonnie: Some stay for a night. Others for months. Social workers, hospitals, and law enforcement all know they can call Nana Baby Home any time – day or night – and someone will answer.
Q: Is it just short-term emergency care?
Marco: It’s mainly emergency and transitional, but the support runs deeper. They help kids through the most difficult moments of their lives. And sometimes they provide respite care when families are struggling but not permanently separated.
Bonnie: They’re also working to expand support for teens – that’s a big gap on the island. The plan is to open a separate facility for older kids while keeping the original house for younger children.
Q: What does Nana Baby Children’s Home mean to you personally?
Marco: To me, it means hope. It means someone is always there for the child who has no one else. And that matters more than most people realize.
Bonnie: It means home. Not the kind of home defined by walls, but by safety, love, and consistency. Nana Baby gives kids the space to begin healing – and that kind of gift changes lives forever.
Q: If someone wanted to get involved, what would you say?
Marco: Start small – a donation, volunteering, even just spreading the word. This is real impact. When you support Nana Baby, you’re not giving to a bureaucracy. You’re helping a real child feel safe tonight.
Bonnie: We’ve seen the difference this home makes, and we believe in it with all our hearts. If you’re looking for a way to help where it truly counts, Nana Baby Children’s Home is it.
– Marco and Bonnie Anasetti
