This month we have an entry from Mary Manning. We really want to thank her for opening up her heart and sharing her story with us. I think her feelings really mirror what a lot of young mothers are going through. If you've ever had that tugging in your heart to help out as a volunteer in your community, then this post is for you! Thanks, Mary, for showing us that God can use us in whatever stage of life we're in.
How Volunteering Saved Me from Myself - by Mary Manning
It's a
little overwhelming to think about the different place I am mentally from last
year at this time to now. I'm not sure if it was depression I was experiencing
or some kind of winter or baby blues post having my youngest son or a
combination of it all. But I can tell you I'm not the same person. Something
was lit in me. Something sparked in me. I was made aware of the organization
Safe Babies Healthy Families through a couple my husband and I were meeting
with through church. The woman worked for this agency and while getting to know
her, we understood more and more of what her job entailed. She helps pregnant
mothers and young families break out of cycles of abuse, poverty and neglect.
She and the other case managers go to these homes, coach the expectant mothers,
teach the parents, and give support that might not be available to these
families in any other facet. Many of the families that use the services of Safe
Babies Healthy Families have experienced generational abuse or poverty...Years
and years of not seeing a way out or an alternative, better way of life. I wanted to know as much as I could about her
job. I wanted to know why she wanted to be in this line of work and if she felt
like she was actually making a difference. And I wanted to know how I could
help.
It took me
awhile to draft the email I finally sent to her. To be honest, I was a little
scared. I felt like I didn't have much to offer in the way of help. We aren't
financially overflowing, I have three young kids who require most of my
attention throughout the day, and my general insecurities can be paralyzing and
keep me from doing a lot of things that my heart wants to do, but my mind holds
me back from. But I wrote the email anyway. I just asked her what the current
needs of Safe Babies Healthy Families consisted of and prayed that I'd be able
to do SOMETHING. ONE THING. Well the email I received in response was the most
exciting thing I had read in a long time. I think I read it 50 times over the
following week. She gave me a list of seven very different ways I could get
involved. Some suggestions required money, small amounts of money. Some
required my time at home. Some required me to find childcare and come serve in
their building. My excitable self immediately wanted to do all seven things but
I knew that was unreasonable and not even what she was expecting of me. So I
talked it over with my husband and we decided together what would be doable for
me at this stay at home, young mothering stage of my life.
They had
needs that ranged from donating craft supplies, home safety items and new or
gently used clothing and toys to preparing healthy snacks and meals once a
month for the moms and their children to working in the office or the Earn As
You Learn Store. They needed childcare twice a month for the moms support
groups and volunteers to help run playgroups for the parents and kids. I ended
up trying a little bit of everything before I narrowed it down to the areas I
felt most capable of volunteering in and what worked for my family and me. I
currently help in the office, make meals, and help out at annual events when I
am available (and have childcare). :)
I learned
through this time in my life that even though I didn't feel very capable or
think that I had much to offer anyone outside of my own home, there were so
many needs in my community that I could do something about. Safe Babies Healthy
Families had a special tug on my heart, likely because of my own experience as
a single mom. I can't imagine having gone through that time of being a
first-time mom with no support system, no family or friends to teach me and
help me along the way. So many of these moms are in that very place. They have
no positive role model or example to follow after. What some of them have seen
or personally experienced has been destructive and unhealthy. So in a small way
I feel like I'm giving to them what was given to me. And the beauty of service is
that the people being served are not the only ones benefiting. I gained so much
(and still do!) from giving of my time and resources to these families. I love
cooking them meals and knowing that this is one night a month that they don't
have to prepare and clean up after dinner for themselves and their kids. I love
putting together the prenatal packets, knowing I'm doing a small task to free
up a case manager's time so that she can focus more on the families she serves.
And I love explaining to my kids why we are delivering food every month to the
same place. It creates awesome conversation, especially for my 9 year old.
I truly
believe that I had a mental shift one year ago when I started volunteering. It
forced me to take my eyes off of myself and everything I wished was different
or better in my life. It made me see that there is greater need out there than
what is under my own roof or even in my church. I learned that I was capable of more than I knew. I learned
that I CAN do something. Everyone CAN do something. Everyone has something to
give.
“No one is
useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another” -Charles Dickens
If you have interest in either donating items to the Earn As
You Learn Store or giving your time as a volunteer, please click on the link to
learn more of the current needs of Safe Babies Healthy Families
http://safebabieshealthyfamilies.org/ourservices/wish-list/
OR please email me (
marymanning08@gmail.com)
if you have any questions on how to get involved. I'm always looking for other
women help prepare warm, delicious meals and healthy snacks once a month.
That'd be a great place to start, even if you don't have a lot of “extra” time
or money.
Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm
Our current ladies Wednesday night elective is going through Lysa Terkeurst's book "The Best Yes." It teaches about the difference between saying 'yes' to everyone and saying 'yes' to God.
*TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
Tuesday mornings at 9:30 am
We
will be studying the book "Having a Mary Spirit" by Joanna Weaver. It
offers Biblical insights and practical tools. Sign up in the atrium.
There is a book to purchase for $12. For questions, contact Dale
Noordyk at 920-242-2858.
*UPCOMING CONFERENCES
Relentles: March 6-7 in Appleton
Shine: May 1-2 in Kenosha
Beth Moore: August 14-15 in Milwaukee
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*SCRAPPERS AND CRAFTERS
Saturday, March 21st from 9-4 pm
Attention
Ladies! Bring your own supplies for your favorite hobby
(scrapbooking, card making, knitting, etc.) and come work on them
alongside other ladies from WFA. You can come and go at anytime and leave your things set out from Friday to Saturday if you please. For
more information, please contact Maggie Scherr at maggiescherr@yahoo.com.
*LITTLE BLESSINGS
March 26th at 7:00 pm
A
message from Amy Prebil: "Little blessings is a group for women with
young children. It started out for women who were pregnant up to babies a
year old. We quickly found we need continued support and encouragement
and opened it to all moms with young children. My passion is for
mother's and young children and I love meeting with these amazing women.
We meet the 4th Thursday of every month in the cafe, sometimes we go
out to a restaurant or meet at my house. Our group is full of laughter,
encouragement, support, and prayer. We would love to welcome some new
mother's and share with them what a true blessing this group has been
for so many. God is the center of this group and He has blessed us all
with such great relationships and compassion for each other. We would
love to see this group continue to grow and flourish. Please call me if
you are interested in joining the group (262-442-7516.)"
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Little Blessings Christmas Party
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*FOOD PANTRY AND SOLES FOR JESUS COLLECTIONS
In
case you weren't aware, we have a collection point in the foyer for the
Waukesha Food Pantry, and one in Uptown for shoes to be donated to
Soles for Jesus. We collect all year for these ministries.
During
the cold and flu season, our nursery is being disinfected weekly and
paying attention to symptoms of illness to keep it a well baby area. If
you are parents of nursery age kids, would you consider volunteering
once a month to help with our growing baby population? Please see Amy
Prebil in the nursery or email amyprebil@gmail.com with questions or
interest.
*TREEHOUSE TREASURES
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Our
church family is growing! Many babies have come and will be coming in
the next few weeks/months. We would love to bless our new moms with a
gift bag filled with newborn items (diapers, wipes, baby bath items,
onesies, gowns, or swaddlers). Amy Prebil organizes this and has set up
a Treasure Chest back in our nursery area to accept item donations.
If you ever have a specific prayer request, please don't hesitate to contact us at nurturewfa@hotmail.com. We have a group of moms with a passion for prayer who would be more than happy to cover you in prayer.
