Club helps more than moms; projects benefit those in need

By Shana LiVIGNI

Families piled out of SUVs last Saturday afternoon, loaded their toddlers into strollers, then made their way into the La Crescenta Presbyterian Church. The church was the site of the 3rd Annual Pre-School Expo, sponsored by the MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club of the Foothills. The parents headed into the expo room to visit the decorated booths of 20-plus local pre-schools, ready to learn what opportunities there were for their children. A preview package was handed out at the door explaining the basic information on each of the participating schools. Each pre-school submitted an overview to the MOMS Club, which included information on the school, contacts, school philosophy, program and general info. The application and enrollment process along with tuition and fees were also included.  The day is designed as an effective and easy way to help parents get  information about the pre-schools in the area and to speak to representatives from the school.

“It’s our third annual pre-school expo and it seems like we’re getting bigger and bigger every year. The schools are happy to be part of it,” said Jessica Dillon, one of the VPs of the MOMS Club. “[The expo] is part of our service projects that we do. We’re a non-profit organization and we do community service projects. It takes a lot of planning by many moms who put this together, a lot of volunteer work and a lot of donations from businesses. Everything down to tablecloths covering the tables to items that we have for silent auctions.”

But providing information on area childcare is just one component of the club.

“Our club has to vote on any money that comes in and where we spend it. It’s usually given to a MOM-to-MOM fund, which is part of our international MOMS Club that helps women in need,” Dillon explained. Along with two silent auctions at the expo, a bake sale table and drinks were set up with all proceeds being donated to the Amercian Red Cross for Haiti Relief.

MOMS Club is an international non-profit organization that supports mothers who have chosen to leave their paid careers for a new career of staying at home and raising their children. They also provide a forum for topics pertinent to children, child-raising, personal improvement and the family. MOMS Club members engage in activities to enrich the lives of children in the community, which includes one charitable, humanitarian or social welfare project related to children each year, like the annual pre-school expo. Last year, this local chapter helped a MOMS Club member who lost her home in the Station Fire as well as other moms needing assistance and support.

The amount raised at Saturday’s event was substantial.

“The silent auction raised $1,370.  The proceeds will go to the MOM-2-MOM Fund. As we voted last month, a portion of it will also be used towards our Sunshade Project to raise a shade over Memorial Park in La Cañada to protect the children’s skin from sun damage,” reported MOMS Club of the Foothills president Melissa Lindemulder. “The bake sale raised over $80 and that money will all go to the American Red Cross for relief efforts in Haiti.”

The MOMS Club of the Foothills has been around for 13 years and has about 60 mom members from the communities of La Cañada, La Crescenta, Montrose, Sparr Heights, Sunland, Tujunga and Kagel Canyon. Some of the current group events are Helping Hands (which includes providing new moms with meals), family picnics, kids’ playgroups, a book club and a walking group. For more information, visit their website www.foothillmomsclub.wordpress.com.

  Expo, la canada, La Crescenta, MOMS club, Pre-school