Matteson Single Moms

Over 12 years ago, Patricia Dunlap, the founder of the Aglow International Matteson Single Moms group asked me to help her start the group and to get it going. She said that she and the other moms didn’t feel loved or appreciated. They were doing so many things, being the mom and the dad, the driver, the provider, the cook, the finance manager, the grocery shopper, everything and they were becoming overwhelmed with trying to juggle so much with limited finances.

So, we went about trying to meet some of the needs that were expressed. They wanted to be pampered, so we had a Spa Day in which we partnered with Trendsetters, a local beauty school. The moms received manicures, pedicures, facials and small gifts.

They wanted to feel appreciated so we had a Moms’ Appreciation Fashion Show and Luncheon here at the Matteson Holiday Inn in which we partnered with Bachrach’s, which was a men’s clothing store and with Dress Barn, which was a women’s clothing store. The men’s store provided the models and clothing and the women’s store provided the clothing and we provided the models. We’ve had speakers to come in to talk about budgeting, parenting, Single moms raising sons, doctors to come in to talk about health and nutrition and the importance of taking care of yourself.

Just to assist in a small way we have a Back to School Event each year in which we give away school supplies. Over the years we have partnered with the Toyota Dealership, the Nissan Dealership, Meijer, a local grocery chain, Amazon, Banks and Credit Unions, Insurance Companies, and other businesses in the area to provide school supplies, book bags, refreshments, etc. for the moms and their children. We’ve also worked with local barbers and beauticians who provided free haircuts and hairdos.

We’ve also partnered with a local restaurant for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners each year for moms and families.

At Christmas, each year, we have a Christmas event in which the children receive toys, the teens receive gift cards and the moms receive special gifts. It has been so wonderful to watch the children's excitement in receiving Christmas presents, a young girl with a doll that looks just like her, a boy with a soccer ball who can't wait to go out and use it. It has also been great to see the moms breathe a sigh of relief with some support to help her children get the gifts that they wanted that year. We have seen the boys grow up to be handsome young men and the girls grow up to be beautiful young women who have been very successful in college, many receiving scholarships.

At our two largest events, Back to School and Christmas, we have special family prayer provided for the moms and their families. Prayer is made available at all of the Moms events.

At the time we didn’t realize the powerful impact we would have on the moms and their children. We’ve seen moms go from being very shy and reserved, feeling unloved to being very outgoing and very confident and to being very successful. We’ve seen the moms blossom just from being a part of events where they just really feel loved and appreciated. The transformations have been very amazing. The moms have gotten promotions on their jobs and even started new jobs which are better and higher paying. They have moved to nicer homes and some even purchased their own homes. And some of the moms have met some really nice young men and they are now very happily married.

Every day we feel that God has used us and our group to help show families that He loves them and that others love them too and has helped them to see themselves as the beautiful and wonderful people that they are.