The End to Marple Newtown MOMS Club?

“The MOMS Club saved my life,” said Joanne Torrillo to me, a mom of two, who started the Newtown Square MOMS Club eight years ago. Joanne was devastated to hear that the club is disbanding this Thursday because they can't get enough members to be part of  its executive board.

The MOMS Club of Marple Newtown, as it is currently known, is a chapter of the international non-profit organization MOMS Club, which provides support for mothers who have chosen to stay home to raise their kids. MOMS is an acronym that stands for Moms Offering Moms Support.

“As a first-time mom, new to the area and home with a newborn after working in center city for 15 years–I needed support,” lamented Joanne. She had heard about the club through a family member and found out that Havertown had a club. The Havertown MOMS Club said Joanne could join but she should consider creating a chapter in her own school district. That is exactly what Joanne did in 2003.

Joanne said being in Havertown at her first meeting was “enlightening and supportive.” She met a lot of moms, received so much advice and support from these women, who a week before were strangers. She realized that the purpose of the club was to bring moms together in their own communities so that everyone was close to each other so you could form lasting relationships.

So Joanne started the Newtown Square chapter, along with some other local moms she met at Makin' Music. Their first meeting had 20 moms in attendance from Broomall, Newtown Square and Springfield. When the club membership reached 70 mothers, Springfield split off into their own chapter.

The MOMS Club had a full calendar back then. It was full of playdates, socials, trips to the firehouse, lunch dates, and playgroups. They started bringing in kid clothing to the monthly meetings to swap, and made meals for members in need. They gave back to the community by marching in parades, donating clothes and baby items to the Mother's Home in Darby and supporting “Adopt a Family” around the holidays.

Joanne gave up the president seat on the executive board of the MOMS Club when her kids were older and in school. She no longer needed playdates. She got what she needed from the club: friends and support for life.

Many current members say they regret the decision to split with Springfield. After the split attendance at events dropped to low levels. Moms slowly stopped putting events on the calendar because no one was attending.

Many members chose to stay in the club once their children were in school, even though they didn't attend events. I am one of those members. I loved MOMS Club. They have been like a mother's security blanket to me–helping me through the rough patches of life. Just this week they are making me meals as I help my extended family deal with our own I didn't ask for help, they just gave it as they have always done.

So, the club will be disbanding on Thursday of this week, unless a member of our community volunteers to lead this valuable club. Without leadership, it no longer qualifies to be part of the International MOMS Club.

There will be one last meeting this Thursday at the at 10 a.m. If you are interested in volunteering to be part of it's executive board, please feel free to join us or contact me by email at bwpilko@verizon.net or my fellow Patch contributor Stephanie Latchford at latchford_s@yahoo.com.