I would like to share with the community of Starkville the success of 52 MOMS most recent event, “Pajama Party in Hollywood.” This was a charity drive to collect underclothing and pajamas for children in the local area. Partnering with Hollywood Premier Cinemas, we were able to offer one free admission to the movies if a person brought a new package of underwear, socks, or pajamas.
On June 14th at 10 am, the movie theater’s lobby was filled with excited boys and girls. Parents and kids alike came willing and excited to share in the enthusiasm of a community service project. Lining the lobby’s walls were chest of drawers and dressers provided by Rick’s Furniture. Undergarments of all sizes, colors, superhero characters, and teen pop stars spilled out of the drawers. Over 350 people walked through the doors Saturday morning with a donation in hand, making a total of over 550 donations. These items have already been delivered and distributed to various schools, social agencies, ministries, and others who work with children in need.
First and foremost, no project like this could be a success without the participation of many, many people. 52 MOMS continues to be overwhelmed by the willingness of local businesses who have gotten involved in service projects with us. I applaud Hollywood Premiere Cinemas for hosting this event, for Watermark Printers for providing all of our advertisement fliers and movie tickets, and for Starkville Computers for maintaining our website. We’d also like to thank Cappe’s Steak House, The Shoe Box, Bop’s, The Book Mart, Shipley’s Do-Nuts, How Bazaar!, Dandy Doodlez, and Skate Odyssey for providing discounts to the people who attended the event. Not once did these businesses hesitate when asked if they could contribute…. We’d even come back multiple times asking, “just one more thing…” and they never wavered in their support.
If you attended the event that day, we hope that you enjoyed yourself. We certainly enjoyed ourselves. We thank you for your donation and your time. If you brought a child with you, we applaud your commitment to teach them about serving and giving to others. Lastly, we hope that you left that day fully entertained by a fun family movie, heavy from a bucket of buttered popcorn and coke, and saturated with a spirit of love and giving.
Our greatest appreciation,
52 MOMS (Mothers on a Mission to Serve)
On a March of Dimes Mission
52 MOMS recently accepted a new community mission with Mississippi's March of Dimes. This local group of mothers sponsored "The Little Wagon Clean Up" workday and fundraiser on March 16, 2008. The project was a success, raising $2000 to go directly to help Mississippi better provide services to babies born prematurely or with birth defects, educate women on prenatal and postnatal care, and research for premature births. Families and children of varying ages worked together to help clean up two local yards in a Starkville neighborhood. The children worked outside to complete various yard work jobs, including collecting pine cones and sticks to load in their little wagons. Donations and sponsorships were collected in response to their workday. March of Dimes will be hosting a community "March for Babies" for the Golden Triangle Area. The event will be in Starkville on Saturday, April 12th at 9am at the Starkville High school track. 52 MOMS, along with other Starkville March of Dimes teams, will be present at the three mile march to help spread awareness and support for this important cause. For more information on how to participate in this event, email us at info@52moms.org
Replacing "Replaceable" Items
52 MOMS supports a mother and her eight children when a recent home fire destroyed thier home and all belongings.
A few weeks ago, at our Children's Clothing Drive we met a single mother of 8 who just moved to Mississippi. Recently, her house burned and she lost everything. The fire started while she and her family were asleep, but they had an evacuation plan in place and all were safe. After meeting her, an email was posted to our group requesting a collection of items.
Within days our mothers responded with overwhelming love and sympathy. So, this is a big THANK YOU to all of you who helped in replacing her “replaceable” items.
Mandy Conrad, the project leader shared this statement, "I wish all of you could have seen the humility, disbelief, and overall joy this women expressed when I took her the items. Thanks to those of you who donated. She received numerous clothing items, toys, books, kitchen and household items, mattresses, and over $500 in money and gift cards. Also, someone donated stuffed Easter baskets for all the kids. The mom was so excited and we were able to hide them before any of the kids knew what we were doing."
The mother and her children have been staying with a wonderful couple who has graciously provided them love and shelter. Just this week, she will be moving her family into a house they found in Eupora. After meeting Ms. Solomon, Mandy said, "I cannot do it justice, but Ms. Solomon expressed a heartfelt “thank-you” (over and over) to all of you who cared about her. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! This is what it is all about!"
Wrapping a Mother in Prayer
52 MOMS was once again prompted into action when the sorrow of one mother living in Fargo, North Dakota tugged at our heart strings. Kelli Medders, wife to Jason Medders and mother of two year old Wyatt, found out she was pregnant with four identical quadruplets early last summer. Her joy quickly turned to sorrow when she lost one baby in utero and two others shortly after birth. Kelli was grief-stricken with the loss of three of her baby girls and stunned as she watched the fourth baby fighting for her life. After hearing of Kelli's story, 52 MOMS contacted the Prayer Shawl Ministry of Trinity Presbyterian Church. A week later a prayer shawl was dedicated in prayer and thoughts to the Medders family in both a congregational church service and a 52 MOMS organizational open house. Over one hundred people bowed their heads in prayer for this family. Once the prayer shawl had been dedicated it was then placed in a box along with three memory blankets for the three babies that had passed away. The box was then mailed to Kelli. Upon receiving news of the package mailed her way Kelli was moved to tears by the thoughtfulness of a group of mothers in Starkville of which only one actually knew her. The power and compassion within a group of mothers is simply incredible.
1st Children's Clothing Drive Helps Over 150 Children
On March 7th, 2008, 52 MOMS worked with the community to meet the needs of children by hosting a Children's Clothing Drive. 52 MOMS (Mothers On a Mission to Serve) hosted a children’s clothing drive Friday morning, in which over 150 children benefited. The drive consisted of new and gently-used clothing to fit sizes ranging from newborn to teenager, as well as toys, books, blankets, and other childcare items.
Event coordinators, Mandy Conrad and Elizabeth Williams were thrilled by the support and turnout for the drive. “The response from the community was fabulous,” Williams said. “Since this was our first time to host an event such as this, we weren’t sure what to expect. But the fact that over 150 children were able to receive bags full of items they could use was beyond our expectations. ” The coordinators spent time distributing flyers in the community, as well as notifying local agencies and organizations to pass the word on to those who could benefit from the occasion.”
“We are so grateful to all of those who volunteered their time to help out and all of those who donated clothing,” stated Conrad, who continued to emphasize how rewarding it is to come together with other mothers in an effort to benefit our children. “All moms understand how quickly children outgrow things, so this was just a great opportunity to share them with others.” Due to the great support and response to this children’s drive, the coordinators indicate future plans to host similar events.
Glasses and Vitamins for Africa Project
Many mothers in our organization have expressed interest in helping those less fortunate in the countries of Africa. In January 2008, we were presented with an opportunity to help collect reading glasses and money to fund packages of vitamins. These items would be delivered to a small village in Africa by a local retired physician and his wife who travel annually to Africa to help provide health education and other health care needs. 52 MOMS collected 190 pairs of reading glasses. We also collected money to purchase children's vitamins and prenatal vitamins for the villagers. We collected enough money among ourselves to buy 1500 children's vitamins and 500 prenatal vitamins. But we thought we could do more....so we organized a work day with 6 moms from our group and 8 of our children (ages 3 and under). We worked in a member of the community's yard collecting pine cones and sticks to raise enough money for another 1500 children's vitamins and 500 prenatal vitamins. This totals 3000 children's vitamins and 500 prenatal vitamins traveling to Africa because of 52 MOMS...WOW!
Above is a picture of a small group of Moms and kids who picked up pinecones and sticks
in a local resident's yard to earn $35 to pay for a bulk package of vitamins to be taken to Africa.
Election for a City School Bond Issue
This photo was taken during an election for a city school bond issue. If passed, the school board proposed to use the money to make needed improvements to buildings and provide educational materials for our local schools. Several mothers in support of this vote took an afternoon with their children to walk the streets of a neighborhood and distribute information to local residents. Our children assisted by handing out stickers and pamphlets from their strollers, wagons, scooters, and bikes. It was a great opportunity for us moms to advocate for our schools and to teach our children that everyone has an important voice in their community.
... and we believe our efforts were recognized and rewarded! See below:
NorthEast Mississippi Daily Journal
EDITORIAL: Starkville's example
10/15/2007 5:42:05 AM
Daily Journal
The passage last week of a $26.5 million school bond issue in Starkville was the latest example of the far-sighted vision for public education in Northeast Mississippi.
People in this region historically have recognized the direct connection between the quality of public schools and the economic success and social cohesiveness of their communities. Strong public schools require broad public support and enrollment, high expectations and a willingness by the community to invest in the future.
Starkville Public School District voters conveyed that willingness to make a small sacrifice in higher taxes in order to ensure that students had adequate facilities for learning. The bond issue had the active support of business and community leaders in a university town that understands the need to keep its schools on a path of steady improvement.
Starkville, like the rest of the Golden Triangle area, is poised for great economic strides with burgeoning aerospace and other high-tech industrial development. Without continued improvement in public schools, however, the opportunities won't be fully realized.
Public schools are critical to economic development for two major reasons: 1) They educate and develop future workers for business and industry, and 2) Poorly supported public schools are a major deterrent to corporate decision-makers and other investors when considering educational opportunities and quality of life for their employees and families.
Today, thanks to a 2-1 margin in favor of the bond issue - a landslide by any political measure - Starkville has taken a big step on the way to solidifying its future attractiveness as a place to live and work.
In Tupelo and Lee County alone since 1990, four bond issues have passed totaling $75 million, with the average vote for passage 75 percent. These and a long history of support for public schools dating back many decades have been the single most important element of community success.
Toyotas and related spinoffs of current vintage in the Tupelo, Lee County and surrounding environs didn't occur in a vacuum. A long heritage of community strength and cohesiveness - epitomized by united support behind public education - laid the groundwork for a community and region that continue to grow and adapt economically.
It likely won't be too much longer before Tupelo, Lee County and other cities and counties in the region will be looking at another round of stepped-up public investment in the future of public schools - in part to prepare to take full advantages of the opportunities before us. The region's long history, as well as Starkville's recent example, provides the roadmap to success.
Appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 10/15/2007, section B , page 4
"More than any other human relationship, overwhelmingly more,
motherhood means being instantly interruptible, responsive, responsible."
- Tillie Olsen -
