MOMS Club observes 15th anniversary
Group offers fellowship, support for stay-athome moms
Six weeks after Megan Ahles and her family moved into Amity Township, Megan and her daughter Reese were involved in a head-on automobile accident. The incident, which left Ahles wheelchair-bound for five months, triggered a series of events that eventually led her to join a local club with activities almost expressly tailored to her needs.
“All I remember,” said Ahles, “was that Reese and I were en route to pick up my other daughter, Taylor, from school. And that was it. I don’t remember anything about the accident, prior, or after.”
Reese, 3 years old at the time, suffered a broken ankle. Her mom, on the other hand, sustained serious injuries. Aheles, who was then 28, suffered a concussion, a brain bleed, a shattered ankle and a broken leg. Due to her leg injury, she was im-
mobilized and confined to a wheelchair for about five months.
To pass the time, Ahles spent much of the day surfing the internet. One day, she came upon a club that immediately appealed to her. It was the MOMS Club, an international non-profit organization dedicated to the support of the stay-athome or part-time working mother and the community in which she lives. Members can seek advice, exchange ideas, and interact with other moms and small children. The club offers a variety of activities for both children and grownups.
When she learned there were two MOMS club chapters in her area, Ahles was ecstatic. The two chapters — the East and West — had both been in existence for 15 years. The dividing line for membership was Old Airport Road. The East Club, which covers the township of Amity north of Route 422 and east of Old Airport Road, seemed the best fit for Ahles and her two young daughters.
In October 2012, Ahles signed up for the East Club.
“I contacted the club president, Michelle Diamond; told her about myself and how I thought this club would benefit me,” stated Ahles. “She invited me to a 2-and-under play group at her house. I went there and fell in love with the club.”
A newcomer to the area, Ahles now had “friends my own age that I could socialize with.”
“I was so glad that Megan contacted me,” recalls Diamond. “I’m happy that I was able to help her out. You hear about post partum depression. Moms get stuck at home and isolated from the outside world. This club is a big help to moms who get into that situation.”
The Douglasville MOMS clubs got its start in July 2002 when a few local moms split off from an existing chapter in Pottstown, and founded the MOMS Club of Douglassville. Three years later, the club had grown large enough that it was “sistered” into two clubs and became the MOMS Club of Douglassville West and the MOMS Club of Douglassville East.
The MOMS Club East, which this year is observing its 15th anniversary, supports the Douglassville community by sponsoring annual service projects to benefit local non-profits. Recently, club projects have included donating to the Berks County food bank, providing school supplies to children in the Daniel Boone School District, and providing needed items to Mary’s Shelter and Berks Women in Crisis in Reading.
The club also participates in community events such as the Community Days fall fair (run by the Daniel Boone Optimist Club) and holiday events such as the Trunk or Treat (a safe trick or treating event) near Halloween and a cookie decorating event during the Winter school break.
The club finances its programs with a variety of fund-raising activities, including business donations, bake sales, and concession stands at local events. One of these events, a basket raffle, recently raised over $9,000 for Amity Fire Company.
Dues for membership in the East Club are $25.00 annually, which entitles members to access to the club’s newsletter, activities calendar, and membership roster. Interested moms are invited to contact the club with name, address, and
“I’m happy that I was able to help her out. You hear about post partum depression. Moms get stuck at home and isolated from the outside world. This club is a big help to moms who get into that situation.” — Michelle Diamond, MOMS club president