Newcomers Group Welcomes Women to the Area, Offers Support After Boxes are Unpacked

New to the area?

There's a group for that.

The Newcomers Ministry offers assistance, support and just plain friendship for new women in the area.

The group, which is part of a national ministry based on the book "After the Boxes are Unpacked: Moving On After Moving In" is entering the 13th year this fall. Each session lasts for 10 weeks.

Jackie Arthur, of Grimes and a founding member of the group, recalled how the Johnston group came about on the golf course.

"I had moved from Georgia, I had moved a lot growing up," she said. "I was handed the book and it was brand new, it was kind of cool, never seen it before."

By the ninth hole the decision was made to begin the group.

The group is open to any women new to the community. Several members choose to continue as leaders after their first year.

Carrie Meyer, of Johnston, is a group leader after her year as a member.

"It's so comforting to meet new people, to have the community, faith, friends and neighbors down the street," she said of moving back to the metro. "This year I'm paying it forward." 

While the group does follow the structure of the book, they also offer their own best practices and tips for members.

"We try to give women information on what's new in the community, one of the first things in Johnston will be the homecoming parade. We'll tell them to bring a bag to catch candy, things you wouldn't know moving to a new area," said Lynn Woods of Johnston. "We listen to what the other women need and what they are really missing."

Each year is a little different from the rest, said Shannon Jensen of Polk City.

"The dynamic of the group is different depending on what the women need and depending on where they moved from, maybe it's more basic things like where do you find a hair stylist or doctor or something more abstract," she said.

The women recalled one year a mother of a special needs child needed guidance.

It just so happened another mother in the group had gone through a similar situation previously.

"We watched them connect," Davis said. "It was unbelievable."

The group has also helped to develop off-shoots, one in Urbandale.

While the group is hosted on Monday evening and Tuesday mornings at Johnston Evangelical Free Church, it is not reserved for those of faith.

"It truly is for all women in the community," Davis said. "Those with faith and those that are not church attenders. It is a ministry but we reach out to all women in the transition."

The group hosts a wealth of meetings and activities for women and their families to participate in, from coffees for the women to a family barbecue.

More information can be found at the groups' Facebook page.