Amazing Moms Making a Difference

Being involved with Stroller Strides and the Luna Moms Club for over a year now, I have had the amazing privilege of getting to know some outstanding women. Women that have shared great parenting skills with me, been a shoulder to lean on, and made me laugh when I didn't know I had it in me! All of these women have become great friends too, and I am thankful everyday to have them in my life.

So I know I shouldn't be so overwhelmed with the generosity they showed me this Holiday season, but it was so immense that I am blown away! In a time where finances are tight, and everyone is scrounging just to make the holidays happen, the ladies of Stroller Strides in Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley dug deep and came together to provide a great Christmas for two families in need. We partnered with Colette's Children's Home here in Huntington Beach to sponsor families through their adopt a family program. The families are recent graduates of their program that help homeless single mothers and their children get a hand up, not a hand out, to help them get back on their feet.

Adopting two families was ambitious, and I thought we might be able to help just a little bit, but our Moms had something else in mind. These ladies came with gifts for a total of 6 people between the two families, including skateboards, clothes and toys. Moms also contributed food for a Holiday meal and something special for each of the moms we adopted. We ended up with 100's of dollars in gift cards, and I even had moms that have moved on from Stroller Strides mail me checks to help out! We were also able to provide each family with a gift card to Ralph's for groceries.

I was the lucky one who got to play Santa and deliver the gifts to the extremely thankful families. It was hard and overwhelming for both of them to be on the receiving end of such great kindness from strangers, and both expressed to me that they can't wait until they can be the ones giving. I have already received a letter of thanks from one of the families that I will be forwarding on to my members later today.

For all of you that contributed to this great cause, or even volunteered at the Christmas party, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know you all took out of your family budget to give to complete strangers, and I feel I cannot express my gratitude enough. You all amaze me on a daily basis, and I am so proud to know you all. I can't wait to see how wonderful all your children will turn out because of the great example you show them everyday.

Happy Holidays, and never underestimate the power of giving! I don't know any gift that can bring me the same satisfaction as I got seeing the look of the faces of these women as they were reminded there are people out there with hearts of gold, willing to help out those in need!