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Mothers' Group Helps Less Fortunate

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By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT

IN THE LOOP

Published: February 18, 2009

The Mothers of Preschoolers at Victorious Life Church want this year's Baby Share event to be a big blowout in honor of its 10th anniversary. To make the dream reality, members are turning to the community for help.

Set for March 3, Baby Share is a baby shower designed to give expectant women, as well as mothers with infants under 3 months, the items they might not otherwise be able to afford. During the event, mothers are treated to a luncheon, a guest speaker and the chance to "shop" for big items like strollers and cribs and small necessities like clothing and diapers.
MOPS member Rebekah Kinsey said she is hoping this year will be bigger and better then all the years before. The group needs donations of strollers, cribs, toddler beds, clothing for boys and girls up to 3T sizes, car seats, sheets, diapers, baby tubs, formula, swings and high chairs.

"Our first year, we started small with only about 10 to 15 women," Kinsey said. "We want to help about 150 to 200 women this year, but we really need donations of gently-used or brand new baby items, food for the luncheon and we will also need at least 100 volunteers to help with the event. Once the event is over, anything we don't give away will go to other charities for them to disperse throughout the year."
Kinsey said the group launched the event so it could reach out to the community as mothers helping other mothers who happen to be less fortunate.

"It is a way of showing God's love in a practical way," Kinsey said. "The goal is to help people remember God isn't just some far off person who doesn't care, he loves us. So many people have been hurt and we just want to remind them that God loves them no matter what."

Sandy Cuculich, director of the Pregnancy Care Center in Tampa, said she regularly takes about 10 to 15 women from her center to annual event.

"This is great for our clients who have a great need for help with baby supplies and who are earnestly working to turn their lives in a good direction," Cuculich said. "It is a great encouragement to them. They get to walk in and feel welcomed and not be judged. This has been a life-changing event for many mothers."

Diana Novo of Wesley Chapel attended the Baby Share last year while she was six-months pregnant with twins. She said even though she was able to get things she needed like clothing and other items, the most beneficial thing she was able to take away from the event was friendship.

"I didn't expect what I received," Novo said. "It turned out to be amazing. I got a lot of friendship out of it and a lot of support. It has been a wonderful resource because some women have been through things that I haven't and they have been able to help me. It is a great experience for families to see there are other people going through the same situation."

This year, Novo said she's in a position to help out. To this end, she will have her own table at the event where she will give away clothing and some other either gently used or brand new items her children didn't need.

"I have a lot of things to give back to Baby Share," Novo said. "It is a great opportunity to give back to the community. To me, it is always good to give back to moms who are not as fortunate or who just really need the help. There are a lot of moms out there who will benefit by having someone reach out to them."

Mothers who would like to go to Baby Share or those who would like to donate, should call the church, 6224 Old Pasco Road, at (813) 973-2230.

Reporter Suzanne M. Schmidt can be reached at (813) 948-4288 or sschmidt@mediageneral.com.

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