Moms everywhere wield inspiring influence and impact on their families; yet, several local moms are taking that influence and impact a step beyond their own families as they make a positive difference in the lives of other families.
Helping Mamas was founded in 2014 by two moms who are also social workers and nonprofit professionals. When co-founder Jamie Lackey became a first-time mother 10 years ago, she soon realized a "huge gap in services." While she worried about sleep deprivation, selecting a quality day care and returning to work, she realized other local moms worried about buying diapers, often resorting to using plastic grocery bags.
"Our mission is to connect helping mamas to mamas needing help," said Lackey, the current Helping Mamas CEO. The organization collects baby items, stores them in its 2,500-square-foot Gwinnett County warehouse and then distributes them to families in need through its more than 30 partner network agencies. This year the organization has distributed baby items to more than 2,400 individuals in 10 counties, and is on target to distribute 100,000 diapers.
The group welcomes volunteers of all ages to help in their warehouse or to host a donation drive for baby items. Specific information about becoming involved is available online.
"We feel like at Helping Mamas we are impacting not only two generations of poverty, but we are also creating two generations of givers," Lackey said.
"We believe it is important to teach kids at a young age that they can have impact on their world. When children see their parents give back, they understand it is part of their family's value system ... and are more likely to continue volunteering as adults," she said.
For more information about becoming involved, send a request to info@helpingmamas.org.
Atlanta Moms Making a Difference
Atlanta Moms Making a Difference began in 2015 because founder Carolyn Patterson wanted her two children, ages 6 and 4, "to learn about giving back to our community and experience how they can make a difference by sharing their time and talents."
The organization's original focus was monthly birthday parties for moms and children at My Sister's House, an organization that assists families struggling with homelessness.
"Both the families at My Sister's House and AMMAD look forward to getting together and celebrating birthdays," Patterson said.
In addition to the monthly birthday party, the organization hosts quarterly events. This fall, AMMAD will partner with the Foster Care Support Foundation to decorate canvas bags for foster children to carry their belongings from one home to another.
This winter, AMMAD will host a Cookies with Santa party for children who would not receive Christmas gifts otherwise.
AMMAD partners with other organizations so its help can be transformative. "We want to be difference-makers for our partner organizations and, more importantly, for the clients those organizations are serving," Patterson said.
The group welcomes volunteers of all ages. "We often have little ones in strollers," Patterson said.
To join the group's email list, send a request to atlmomsmakingadifference@gmail.com. Interested individuals may also submit an online volunteer registration.
Pebble Tossers began in the fall of 2008 "with a mission to empower and develop youth into responsible citizens and lifelong volunteers," co-founder and executive director Jennifer Guynn said.
Today the organization works with 16,000 kids and families and serves 100 nonprofit organizations throughout metropolitan Atlanta.
Pebble Tossers connects kids and their families with age-appropriate service projects. Participation in service projects can help children and youth take on leadership roles, solve problems, cooperate with others and be part of solutions in our world, Guynn said.
"This leads to better self-esteem and that feeling of doing good," she added.
"I feel such joy and excitement when I think about what a single child volunteering today could accomplish if he continues to serve throughout his life. Through their involvement with Pebble Tossers, kids are exposed to all kinds of service opportunities that they can select based on their own interests. We provide the resources and opportunities that create lifelong volunteers and good stewards to our communities," Guynn said.
Service projects are available for all ages; a list of current and upcoming projects is available online.
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