MOMS ON A MISSION
Area company provides support, services to new moms and families
SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. » Local moms Trisha Bracken and Emily Neville, owners of Heaven Scent Home Cleaners, are on a mission.
They want to raise awareness of postpartum depression and the services that are available to combat it.
In about a month, those services are going to include their own. Five weeks ago, the ladies launched their newest company, Moms on a Mission, to provide support and services to new moms and their families.
“We’re going to provide a two hour complimentary service to moms with new babies, to help prevent postpartum depression,” Bracken explained.
That service won’t be limited to just cleaning. Moms on a Mission will do whatever the new parent — or family member — needs, including running errands, scheduling appointments, laundry, dishes, car cleaning, prepping the baby’s room, or any other job that needs to be done.
They will also offer the new family a 50% discount on Heaven Scent Home Cleaning Services for up to one year.
As part of the two hour service, the new mom will also get a care basket filled with gift certificates and resources that will benefit the whole family.
“It’s not just the moms that can get postpartum depression,” Bracken explained. “There are different categories of postpartum depression, and the various mood disorders associated with it can affect anyone in the family - dads, grandparents, siblings, anyone.”
The idea for Moms on a Mission came to Neville when she was visiting a friend expecting her first child. She started thinking about what she could do to help when the baby arrived, and thought of asking Bracken to help her do a surprise cleaning of the new mom’s house.
As it turned out, that didn’t come to fruition, because the friend’s mother came up to visit and help out, but when Neville checked in a week later, her friend was stressed out and feeling overwhelmed.
“I looked at her and I said, ‘what do you need me to do?’ and I jumped right in and took care of what she needed so that she could relax,” Neville said. “This feeling of coming home with a new baby and there’s so much to do can make you overwhelmed, and if you don’t act fast, it goes downhill.”
Neville knows all too well about the downhill slope of postpartum depression. She struggled with it after the births of two of her three sons. Together with Bracken, who has three girls of her own, she wants to raise awareness and get new families the help they need.
“We want to open that door,” said Bracken. “We want women to know it’s okay to ask for help. We’re moms ourselves, so we know what it can be like.”
One out of 7 women and 1 out of 10 men are affected by postpartum depression. In other countries, the government provides services to mothers to help them and their families after a baby is born. No such governmental program currently exists in the US.
That’s not to say that help isn’t available, though. Postpartum Support International has global resources to help new families, and Shades of Light provides similar services at the local level. Both organizations provide help free of charge.
Bracken and Neville are very excited about being able to give support to new moms and their families as well. But they’re also being very cautious about it. They won’t accept any applications for Moms on a Mission, or set foot in any homes, until they have first completed certification courses to become properly trained in how to identify and react to postpartum depression.
Once that’s done, though, and a few more key pieces fall into place - including a company website — the ladies will be ready to start accepting applications.
“We’re going to start accepting applications from moms who are six months pregnant or more, or who have a baby that is one year old or younger,” explained Neville.
They’re also going to focus attention on getting the business up and running and properly recognized as a nonprofit organization. Until then, most of the expenses associated with the company’s startup costs are coming out of their own pockets.
They’re getting help with putting together their care baskets, though. Moms on a Misison is receiving generous support from local businesses including:
• Saratoga Stirke Zone, who has agreed to be a lifetime partner of the organization
• Namaste Yoga, who is going to offer specific classes for new mothers
• Pancea Day Spa
• Byron’s Grocery Store
• KD Outdoor Sportz
• Sweeney’s Bakery
• Lashes By Aaron Moms on a Mission is also going to work with the Schuylerville American Legion Post and Clark’s Steakhouse to host fundraising events at each location. They’re also getting support from the Capital Region Chamber to get the business stable and ready for growth.
“We want everyone to know that postpartum depression is a serious issue that can become even worse, and that it’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to not know what you’re doing,” stated Neville. “Some new moms and new dads get this ‘Superhero Syndrome’ where they feel like they need to do everything themselves and can’t ask for help, because it might be seen as weakness.
“It’s not. We want people to know that help is out there — you just need to ask.”
Once Moms on a Mission is ready to start accepting applications, sometime in early April, they will be offering their services weekly on Wednesdays. Neville and Bracken hope that their business model takes off and spreads, inspiring other cleaning companies and service providers to take similar steps.
“But please don’t just jump in — do it right. Get training like we are so you know how to act, what to say,” encouraged Neville.
They also hope to be an example for their children, showing them what they have been through and how they can help others. They look forward to continuing to network and getting more sponsors to support their mission.
“We would love to be able to connect with Tiffany Jenkins,” Neville admitted. “Her podcast has so many followers. If would be so great if she could help us spread the word!”
“It’s going to be great. We are on our way,” commented Bracken.
“We are pouring our heart and soul into this, and we’re not going to let it fail,” said Neville.
The website for Moms on a Mission is coming soon.
In the meantime, they can be contacted for any purpose, including sponsorship and fundraising efforts or applicant inquiries, through their FaceBook page at www.facebook/ 2momsonamissionny. Shades of Light can be contacted at www.shadesoflightps.org. Potspartum Support International can be contacted at www.postpartum.net.