We are thrilled about beginning our very first "Power of Moms" service project!  The purpose of our yearly project is to provide a simple, meaningful activity in which mothers can participate with their children and friends.  This type of project can add a new dimension to a playdate and help teach children to think of others.  If many of us work on this together (over the course of a year), we can make a substantial impact in the lives of others.  We would love for you to read through our project outline and contact us if you would like to be a part of it!


The Idea Behind "Moms Helping Moms"

Often when a child is in the hospital for long periods of time, we think to make cards and care packages for that child--and rightfully so!  Children need that extra love and support to help them feel better, but what about the parents of these sick children?  Often the mothers are the ones who sit at the bedsides of their children all day (we are not trying to diminish the dedication of the many wonderful fathers out there--it's just that this website is focused on helping mothers).

If any of you have had a child in the hospital, you know about the challenges these parents experience.  As mothers, we want to make it "all better" and would do anything to take the pain away from our little ones. After spending days in the hospital, moms get drained and worn out. They are constantly nervous about what the doctor is going to say next, wondering when (or even if) they can take their child home, exhausted, and often times lonely.  Our goal is to do something to brighten some of these mothers' days!
 

Implementing the Plan

After speaking to the volunteer service coordinator at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital (located in Southern California) we were informed that there is a great need for something like this at their hospital.

Loma Linda sees thousands of sick children each year. The Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is one of the largest and most advanced neonatal centers in the world. The Children's Hospital also operates the world's leading program in infant heart transplantation.

Because this hospital is so specialized, families travel far from home to get the best care for their children. This hospital becomes “home” to many families--and especially to many moms.  Our plan is to provide care packages for these mothers and let them know that we, as their fellow mothers, care about the work they are doing and the love they are providing for their children.  

Suggestions for Care Package Contents:

-hand written note of encouragement
-personal-care products (shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, hairbrush, shower gel, a very soft washcloth, etc.)
-lip gloss
-book or magazine to read
-Crossword puzzle
-small handcrafted item
-list of inspiring quotations
-small container of coins (for vending machines)


Things to keep in mind:

-Personal-care products for donation must be new and unopened, in their original packaging.
 -The wrapping for your care package does not have to be fancy.  Plastic freezer bags or small gift bags work just fine.
-Food items should not be included in these packages--they could go "bad" or attract insects, rodents, etc.
-You can buy inexpensive travel-sized items at drugstores and supermarkets, or you can buy items on sale or in bulk packs.
-For relatively little money, you can gather enough items to create care packages for more than one mom.


Making this Project a Reality

Mothers have very little "free" time.  We completely understand that and want this service project to be something that enhances your mothering experience instead of just giving you something else to do.   Here are a few steps that may help you get started.

(1) Pick a month when you would like to execute this project, and put it on your calendar.  You may want to include it as part of your family's holiday traditions or use it as a neighborhood activity when the children are out of school.  Because this is a yearly project, you have the flexibility to pick the best time for you to participate.

(2) Decide who you will involve.  Is this something your children's friends would like to help with?  Do you have neighbors who would like to contribute?  Is there a church group that might be interested in making this a larger activity?  Would you prefer to do it by yourself?

(3) Divide the project into small "chunks." 
            First, you can send an email out to your friends or call your neighbors and invite them to participate.  Provide a list of items you would like them to bring and let them know when you will be assembling the kits (you will probably want to make assignments carefully so you can make complete packages with one of each item). 
            Second, make a run to the store to purchase the supplies you would like to include and collect, print, or make any other items. 
            Third, plan a time for your children to decorate the bags or make homemade cards for the mothers.(grocery sacks with painted hand-prints are one idea). 
            Finally, you can assemble the bags (with your family or friends) and deliver them to the hospital.

If  you would like to mail or personally deliver your packages to Loma Linda's Hospital, please email april@powerofmoms.com for more information.

If you would like to send care packages to your local hospital, you will want to call in advance for details and make sure they will accept such donations. 

Either way, we want to know how it goes!


Report Back on Your Experience

Although we are not participating in this project to receive recognition for ourselves, reporting on our experiences helps us encourage others to get involved and provides a community feeling to the service we are giving.  Please feel free to send photos and/or brief explanations of what you were able to do, so we can add them to this website.  Thank you!