Oswego group puts moms first
If you'd like your charity, community organization or service group featured, contact Christie Willhite at (630) 955-3536 or cwillhite@dailyherald.com.
So your day starts around 6 a.m. when the kids get you up before any alarm can ring. You get them changed and dressed and fed, throw in a couple loads of laundry and do some dishes. You mediate a sibling squabble, turn off SpongeBob and try to get the little ones to eat some fruit with lunch. You load everyone up and dash to the store and a couple of tot classes, pausing at the park if you're lucky. You rush home, make dinner, bathe the kids and kiss them goodnight.
Finally you sit down and ... fall asleep.
What you need is some Mom time - a chance get out of the house and talk to some grown-ups.
Mothers and More was founded by a woman who chose to leave the workforce to care for her children but still wanted to pursue hobbies and volunteer in the community. Today, local chapters of the now-national organization provide social activities and volunteer opportunities for members.
The Oswego chapter draws members from southwestern DuPage County as well as Will, Kane and Kendall counties. Chapter leader Missy Dziewiatkowski discusses the groups efforts on behalf of local mothers.
Q. What is your mission?
A. We are dedicated to improving the lives of mothers through support, education and advocacy. We address mothers' needs as individuals and members of society, and promote the value of all the work mothers do, whether paid or unpaid, inside or outside of the home.
Q. How do you work toward accomplishing that goal?
A. We offer a wide range of programs and activities for our members. Each month we host a program night with topics focusing on issues that mothers face. Local experts have been so helpful by volunteering their time to share their expertise with us. Past topics have included financial planning, raising money-smart kids, identity protection, Internet safety, domestic violence awareness and stranger danger. We also offer weekly and monthly activities such as recipe night, book club, playgroups, mom's night out, craft events, bunco and much more.
Q. Who do you serve?
A. The Oswego chapter serves members from Aurora, Naperville, Plainfield, Oswego, Montgomery, Yorkville, Sugar Grove and Plano. Some members were born and raised here while others have relocated here from as far away as Australia.
Q. When and why did the organization start? How has it grown?
A. Mothers and More was founded in 1987 by Joanne Brundage. An Elmhurst resident, Brundage left her job as a letter carrier to stay home to care for her children. She felt the stresses most moms feel when they make a life transition such as leaving or rejoining the workforce.
The Oswego chapter was established in May 2001 and now has close to 80 members.
Q. What kind of successes have you had?
A. We consider every community event we participate in to be a success! We've organized our own events such as the Free Car Seat Safety Check. We have also worked closely with local organizations such as Hessed House, Mutual Ground, VNA of Fox Valley, Angel Network and Kendall Country Food Pantry. We are very proud of the relationship we have built with The Tillers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. We love to spend time with their residents whether it be to trick-or-treat during Halloween or visit them with Furry Friends.
Q. What challenges does the organization currently face?
A. Like many non-profit organizations, our chapter has felt the hit of the declining economy. Membership numbers have decreased, which makes finding volunteers more challenging. We rely on fundraisers and donations to run our group. When these slow down, it affects the overall management of our group.
Q. What do you wish the community at large knew about the organization?
A. We are not your typical moms group, which tends to focus soley on the child. Yes, we do offer many activities for our members' children, but our main focus is on Mom. I remember my own mother saying "If Mom's not happy, no one is happy." We offer activities and community outreach programs that appeal to a wide variety of moms and their wide variety of interests. We have lots of fun, but we also take our work in the community very seriously.
Q. How can readers get involved?
A. We are always looking for new members. We rely on our members to keep our group growing.
We have various fundraisers throughout the year, our biggest by far being our Spring and Fall Children's Clothing Resale. We post fundraisers on our Web site, so we ask anyone who is interested to check our Web site frequently.
Of course, donations are always welcome. We can always accept cash donations for our group as well as donated goods for our causes (mainly clothing and supplies for our less fortunate neighbors). We are always looking for corporate sponsors.
Mothers and More Fall Children's Clothing Resale
What: Sale of new and gently used children's clothing and toys and a bake sale to raise money for the chapter
When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 27
Where: Boulder Hill Elementary School, 163 Boulder Hill Pass, Montgomery
Cost: $1
Info: mothersandmoreoswego@yahoo.com