Mothers of Preschoolers of St. Andrews is starting its 21st year of meetings at the Parish Hall of St. Andrew The Apostle Church Gibbsboro/Voorhees. Over the last two decades, hundreds of moms have enjoyed this special community of moms, where they can share the ups and downs of raising preschool age children while enjoying breakfast and some great social time.
”I remember sitting in church and watching all the young families come in. The babies would be crawling up and down the pews every time the moms and dads stood or knelt during the service. I knew a MOPS group was needed and I wanted to meet other mothers of young children,” said Leta Strain, founder of the local group.
And 21 years later, moms still call on MOPS of St. Andrews for an authentic community where they can gather to experience encouragement, support and hope. It is one of thousands of local MOPS groups across the U.S. and 38 countries internationally, serving millions of families since 1973. Denver-based MOPS International is a non-profit ministry that creates communities to help “Better Moms Make A Better World.”
Many join the group for friendship and getting answers to questions. Jamie Williams joined MOPS of St. Andrews after relocating to South Jersey and realizing she needed a group like MOPS not only for making friends, but also to have an established network for to find resources like reputable doctors, preschool options and organized service opportunities.
“I was a stay at home mom with my precious 12-month-old daughter from Russia. MOPS provided a comfortable place where my daughter could play with other toddlers, and I could share my journey through motherhood with others,” Eglas Leistiko said.
Beth Garcia remembers receiving an invitation to join MOPS not long after her first son’s baptism.
”I wasn’t sure I could do it because I was a new mom living in a new neighborhood and I could barely get my baby dressed let alone myself, but my neighbor, Noelle, said, ‘Just come.’ Those two words changed my journey through motherhood forever. I cannot describe the feeling I had that first semester of MOPS at St. Andrews. It was overwhelming to be welcomed by a community of mothers who knew just what I was feeling, who were there to tell me I would make it and everything would be okay and to remind me that it was also perfectly normal, not selfish, in fact healthy for me to take time for myself so I could give more back to my family because I felt refreshed,” Garcia said.
Every mom is welcomed, accepted and inspired to reach her potential and recognize her influence within her family and her world. MOPS believes that better moms really do make a better world. MOPS is about meeting the needs of every mom with a child from newborn through kindergarten. Whether you’re urban, suburban, rural, stay at home, working, teen, adoptive, special needs, single or married, MOPS is for you.
MOPS of St. Andrews are accepting members for our fall semester. If you are interested in joining the group come along to our meet and greet on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 9:45 a.m. just email us to reserve your place. Email Lisa or Janet at mopsofstandrews@gmail.com.
