ESTEVAN - The Moms Helping Moms Estevan initiative was created just recently, but the work they've been able to accomplish and the support they've received have been inspiring.
On Thursday, a donation of $1,000 from Trobert Gilliss Law Firm came in to help the group with their mission.
Moms Helping Moms Estevan was created in December by Becky Cassidy and Misty Pennington to help families who are coming to Estevan from Ukraine get the items they need for their children.
Cassidy said she's been following the Sunflower Network, an organization helping Ukrainians expelled by war to come and settle in Estevan and elsewhere in the province, and noticed they were helping two families with expecting mothers.
"I knew that I needed to help because I've been there, I've had three [kids] of my own, and I couldn't imagine being in that situation. So, I decided to reach out to Val [Crossman with the Sunflower Network] and ask if we could help by helping parents get what they need for the children once they arrive," Cassidy explained.
"Val and Brian [Crossman with the Sunflower Network] have done so much for so many people. I know that they're always on the go, running around trying to help. So, my friend Misty Pennington and I decided that we would try and help by taking on a small portion of what they do, using our network of parents and friends that we already have here in the southeast. So, we created Moms Helping Moms."
Cassidy and Pennington curated a list of everything a new mom could possibly need.
The group created a signup.com website, and leveraged their mom network in Estevan and social media to generate attention to the cause. Within seven days, the southeast corner of the province had donated all 140 items that were listed on the website.
And the expecting mothers that arrived in Estevan recently were grateful for the support.
"They're full of gratitude. They're still trying to acclimate to the cold weather in our community, but they're just so grateful and happy with the generosity from southeast Saskatchewan. It's been overwhelming the amount that people are willing to give in such a good way," Cassidy said.
The immediate outpouring of support from Estevan and area to this cause is unprecedented, the group organizers said.
"When we heard about this cause, being a mother myself, I could not imagine being in that situation; we knew we needed to help," said Kathryn Gilliss, partner at the Trobert Gilliss Law firm. "This donation can be used as seed money for the group to ensure they have the items that are necessary in order for the newcomers to feel as though they have a good head start for their children when they arrive here in Estevan.”
"We would really like to thank Tobert Gilliss Law Firm for their donation. Kathryn Gilliss is a mom herself, and I know she's a big community supporter. And we're very grateful for that donation; it'll go a long way for our committee in the future," Cassidy said.
Going forward, the Moms Helping Moms Estevan committee will work closely with the community, the Estevan Sunflower Network, Southeast Newcomer Services and with the families directly to identify the needs of the children who have arrived recently or who are coming to Estevan from Ukraine.
"Once we have an idea of the age and the gender of the children that are coming, we will start collecting other items for them," Cassidy said.
"But if somebody wants to make a donation towards this initiative, they can do so … through Estevan Sunflower … A lot of items we received are gently used or secondhand ... There is so much stuff that kids grow out of so quickly that it's like new, and that's what people were willing to give.
“And the money that we received from Trobert Gilliss Law Firm will help us in the case that we don't have something that we need ... in the future for the kids who continue to come or who are already here."
Tax receipts for monetary donations are available. For more details reach out to Estevan Sunflower through their Facebook page.
Additional details on Moms Helping Moms Estevan, their needs and progress can be found on social media.
