MOMS Club of Roanoke East to Host Open House

Event Includes Car Seat Safety Check, Story Time, and Children’s Craft

MOMS Club of Roanoke East, Virginia is hosting an Open House on Thursday, February 14^th, from 9:30a.m. – 11:00a.m. The event will be held at Bonsack United Methodist Church, 4493 Bonsack Rd. The Open House will feature a car seat safety check by a certified Child Passenger Safety technician and instructor, children’s craft and story time, and refreshments. Mothers and children living in east Roanoke (including Vinton, Bonsack, and Roanoke City east of I-581) are invited to come and learn more about MOMS Club, an international organization for stay-at-home mothers.

“This is a great opportunity for us to reach out to moms in the community who may not be aware of us,” says Kerri Brock, the chapter president. “It’s easy for stay-at-home moms to feel isolated, like they’re the only ones doing it. MOMS Club is a wonderful way for moms and children to get out of the house and make new friends.”

The Open House will be part of the chapter’s monthly meeting, and children of all ages are welcome. MOMS Club members will offer children a Valentine’s Day craft and story time, while very young children can stay with their mothers or in the adjacent nursery under the supervision of other members. Guests will be introduced to members, and hear chapter news. Jill Lucas, a certified CPS technician and instructor and coordinator for SAFE KIDS Southwestern Virginia (a global network of child safety organizations led by Carilion) will instruct moms in proper car seat installation, and check their vehicles. After the presentation, moms and children will enjoy snacks, beverages, and social time.

Jeni Spraker, the VP of Membership, hopes the Open House will attract moms looking for fun activities as well. She says members especially appreciate a monthly calendar filled with daily events for moms and kids. “We’ve got something for everyone – park and home playdates, crafts, a book club, visits to area attractions, and much more. Moms appreciate the babysitting co-op, Moms’ Night Out, and our Moms on the Mend program, which helps ill and post-partum mothers with meals, errands, and childcare. We also do several community service projects each year.”

The Open House is a team effort led by member Shelle Thompson, who has been with the chapter for one year. According to Shelle, while the daily activities and camaraderie are lifesavers for her and her young son, one of the added benefits has been the reassurance she has received from talking about parenting issues with other members. “As a first-time mom, it’s a relief to hear that you’re not the only one who’s unsure about feeding or sleeping issues,” she said. Shelle wants other new moms to have a chance to enjoy the same benefits.

The MOMS Club is a non-profit international organization which provides support, friendship, fun activities, and more for mothers who have chosen to stay home to raise their children, including moms who work from home or part-time. Activities are mainly held during the day, when at-home mothers and their children need companionship. There are three chapters in the Roanoke area: Roanoke East (east of I-581, Vinton, etc.), Roanoke West (west of I-581, Salem, etc.) and Roanoke North (north county, Botetourt, etc.)

For additional information about MOMS Club of Roanoke-East and other chapters, contact Jeni at membership@roanokemomsclub.org