Features, Rangely

Unsung Hero: Melissa Norman, New Eden director

Rangely’s Melissa Norman with granddaughter Raelynn and husband Adair. Norman has served as the director of New Eden Pregnancy Care Services in Rangely since 2014.
Courtesy Photo

RANGELY | The definition of an unsung hero is one who does great deeds but receives little or no recognition for them. They are ordinary people who make themselves extraordinary. Melissa Norman has done just that through her work with New Eden Pregnancy Care Services. She and the volunteers at New Eden have made big impacts for many women and families in the community. Norman has been the director of New Eden since 2014.

She and her husband Adair have been married 40 years. Norman, a United States Navy AZ2 veteran, and Adair, a Craig, Colorado, native, moved back to Colorado from Nevada in 1993.

“We just felt it was time to move back closer to family,” Norman said. She worked for the United States Postal Service for 30 years before retiring.

Together, Melissa and Adair raised their three daughters, Chloe, Brittany, and Jolie here. Her granddaughter Raelynn graduated this year from Rangely Jr./Sr. High School.

When she speaks about New Eden, one senses Norman’s love and pride for the center. A Christian non-profit organization run and operated entirely by volunteers, New Eden was the concept of a group of pastors in Meeker, Colorado, who saw the need of women who were seeking help before, during and after their pregnancies for material items, guidance, support and encouragement. It is funded by churches and private individuals within the community. New Eden in Meeker opened its doors in 2011 and Rangely   Eden opened its doors in 2013. Ginger Bollen was the original Rangely director. In the beginning, Rangely New Eden had a great number of volunteers.  Presently, New Eden only has two other volunteers besides Norman.

“Donna Petersburg and JoAnn Adams are so faithful and wonderful to work alongside, they have such a vast knowledge of motherhood, they are great listeners and loving individuals,” Norman says of the two volunteers.

New Eden offers free pregnancy tests, diapers, formula, baby clothing sizes newborn through 2T, maternity clothing, baby items, guidance, educational information about pregnancy, adoption, abortion and parenting. All of the services are free and confidential.

New Eden tries to hold some fundraisers throughout the year to help boost finances. One of the fundraisers is the 5K Color Run which has traditionally been held around the Fourth of July in Rangely. This is their biggest fundraiser every year. The funds raised help keep their doors open. They buy baby supplies that are in short supply, and educational materials.

“The Rangely business community has been a great support to New Eden,” Norman said with gratitude. “The Western Rio Blanco Parks and Rec. [district] has purchased the color for the 5k Color Run and included the center in their list of events happening on the Fourth of July. They have been a big help for us.” Giovanni’s has provided water for the 5K Color Run, Nichol’s Store has provided ice, and White River Market donates fruit. “Rangely True Value keeps our yard in great shape, the Rangely District Hospital gives us a grant to purchase new car seats and First Baptist Church allows us to use their garbage cans,” Norman said. Every little bit helps when you are a nonprofit organization.

If you are interested in helping New Eden, they accept baby clothing in good repair, toys, books, baby items, new car seats, new cribs, pac’n’play, high chairs, nursing supplies, crib sheets, bassinets, blankets, shoes, socks,  burp cloths, swaddlers, bath towels, wash clothes and much more. New Eden cannot accept donations of used car seats or used cribs for safety reasons. For more information about donations or services you can contact New Eden Pregnancy Care Services in Rangely at 970-675-2300 or Meeker at 970-878-5117.

By ROXIE FROMANG | Special to the Herald Times

One Comment

  1. What a great organization and almost single handle, plus 2… Thank you Melissa, Donna, & JoAnn for all you do for your community.

Come say hi!

@ht.1885
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🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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