Donations sought for Mother’s Day brunch

Organizers of a Mother’s Day brunch for homeless women are seeking donations to help fund the longrunning community gathering.

The popular event always has had more heart than money, supporters say, with volunteers giving their all to serve more than 400 mothers, children and family members affected by homelessness.

“It almost overwhelms me,” said volunteer Janet Forrest. “Last year, people from all over stepped up to the plate. These women get to feel so special for a day.”

But a dedicated corps of volunteers and donated gifts and services isn’t quite enough: The Marsha Donner Mother’s Day Brunch also needs to raise money to buy food and to reduce the burden on the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, an event sponsor that no longer has spare money for the brunch in its budget.

“We want to raise as much money as we can on our own,” Forrest said. “We would love for some business to pick us up as their charity.”

The brunch committee is trying to raise $6,000 and has created a GoFundMe online campaign to support the event, set for Mother’s Day — May 14 — at Capital University.

The Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, meanwhile, also has been working to recover from a rough winter that saw its offices at 1015 E. Main St. flooded after a pipe broke. That endangered the operations of Street Speech, the coalition’s socialjustice tabloid that homeless and formerly homeless vendors hawk on street corners.

“We raised enough to keep us afloat for a while longer,” said Street Speech editor Shannan Anderson. “We are still desperately looking for funds that are sustainable.”

Coalition member Tammy Forrest said the organization never wants to choose between support for the street newspaper and the Mother’s Day brunch, both of which are important to the homeless community.

The brunch, now in its 17th year, is beloved for the kindness it bestows on the mothers, treating them to a nice meal with fresh flowers and linens, gift bags, professional photography and more.

“It’s become so valued that we try to do everything we can to make it happen,” Tammy Forrest said.

To donate, go to https://www. gofundme.com/ marsha-donner-mothers

“Last year, people from all over stepped up to the plate. These women get to feel so special for a day.”

—Volunteer Janet Forrest