Mother to Mother Ministries helps provide child rearing tools

By Rayma Silvers

The Fort Scott Tribune

Single mothers in Bourbon County do not have to face the challenges of child rearing all by themselves.

According to Mother to Mother Ministries of Bourbon County Program Director Wilma Leach, everyone needs help in different areas. Leach has worked with Mother to Mother of Bourbon County, 1602 E. First St., since its beginning in 1998 to create programs which will meet the varied needs of the single mothers in Bourbon County, she said. "I hope it's a place where anyone can come and get some of the things we have to offer," Leach said.

According to a written document provided by the United Way of Bourbon County, MTM is a program which strives to strengthen families in various ways.

"MTM is a non-profit organization which focuses on strengthening the family unit by establishing and providing intentional friendships and contacts that cross economic, racial, and social barriers. Our goal is to provide the necessary tools enabling parents to effectively enhance the welfare of their children through a vast array of services including parental education and more," the written statement said.

According to Leach, MTM offers a support group for victims of domestic violence. This program includes all types of violence–physical or mental, she said. Leach said that mental violence can be just as destructive as physical violence. Leach said that the support group is extremely beneficial to those who have suffered from violence.

"Through the support group, you learn that you are a good person, and you know you are not alone because other people there know what your going through," Leach said.

MTM offers counseling through the Crisis Resource Center in Pittsburg which makes advocates available for mothers to talk to if needed, Leach said.

MTM provides baby items such as baby and children's clothing, baby lotions, baby baths, diapers and wipes to mothers in need. These baby items are received through donations and distributed to the mothers in need, Leach said. The car seat and baby stroller and furniture programs that the MTM operates can help a mother provide proper traveling safeties for her children in addition to other much needed larger baby items, such as strollers and baby beds. The agency will give a mother of a new born a carrier and then when the baby gets too old for the carrier the mother can return the carrier for the next stage of car seat, Leach said. This way, MTM can get the most out of donations by continuing to rotate the needed items, she said.

Although the name of the organization is Mother to Mother, Leach said that they also help dads who need support. Each year MTM has a fatherhood program to promote fatherly involvement in a child's life. Last year, MTM sponsored a bowling party for fathers and their children, Leach said. A great number of children and their fathers, about 109 total, attended the bowling event which was meant to "encourage dads to spend time with their kids," Leach said. The Bowling party event was funded through the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program, she said. According to Leach, this year's father/ child event will involve a rodeo at the Fort Scott Community College. Leach said that many of the participating dads have personally thanked her for sponsoring the events, she said.

In Oct, MTM will begin a new program for its patrons, Leach said. In partnership with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), MTM will offer mothers nutrition and cooking classes. These classes will help teach mothers how to give their children proper nutritious meals, Leach said. These classes will begin on Oct 15, 2007.

Mother to Mother has many other programs that aid mothers with the day to day tasks of raising children. For more information about the programs offered by this agency call MTM at (620) 223-9982 MTM is just one of the many programs that are supported financially by the United Way of Bourbon County. It is also funded by the Kansas Health Foundation and donations.

For more information or to donate to the United Way, call (620) 223-0980.