MOTHERS IN ARMS

MOTHERFUL COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY, RESOURCES, EDUCATION, ARTS, AND WELLNESS MOTHERFUL IS A BLACK, INDIGENOUS, MOTHERS OF COLOR-LED, MULTIRACIAL GRASSROOTS COLLECTIVE OF SINGLE MOTHERS IN COLUMBUS, OHIO WHOSE MISSION IS TO SUPPORT, EMPOWER, AND NURTURE SINGLE MOTHER FAMILIES THROUGH COMMUNITY, EDUCATION, RESOURCES, ARTS, AND WELLNESS. FOUNDED IN 2018 BY SINGLE MOTHERS FOR SINGLE MOTHERS, MOTHERFUL ENVISIONS A WORLD IN WHICH ALL MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE VALUED AND CARED FORA WORLD IN WHICH THEY WOULD NEVER AGAIN FEEL ISOLATED, STIGMATIZED, OR MARGINALIZED, EITHER PERSONALLY OR SYSTEMICALLY. UNITED WAY PROGRAM INVESTMENT FUNDS WOULD ALLOW MOTHERFUL, WHICH NOW HAS OVER 600 SINGLE MOTHER FAMILIES, TO SUSTAIN AND EXPAND ITS VITAL PROGRAMMING IN 2024. MOTHERFULS COMMUNITY GARDEN, RESOURCE GARAGE AND FOOD PANTRY, MICRO-LENDING PROGRAM, AND EMERGENCY FUND GRANTS ENSURE THAT BASIC NEEDS ARE MET AND THAT MEMBERS CAN STABILIZE THEIR FINANCES. COMMUNITY AND COLLECTIVE CARE INITIATIVES SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF SINGLE MOTHERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. MONTHLY COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS, EXPERIENTIAL ARTS EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY DINNERS FORGE A SENSE OF CONNECTEDNESS THAT PROFOUNDLY IMPACTS MEMBERS WELL-BEING. IN A MAJOR STEP TOWARD ADVANCING HOUSING STABILITY, MOTHERFUL RECENTLY LAUNCHED A CO-HOUSING DEVELOPMENT SLATED FOR COMPLETION IN 2026. IN ADDITION TO COLLECTIVELY AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF MEMBERS, MOTHERFUL ALSO WORKS TO PROMOTE RACIAL, GENDER, ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, AND MATERNAL JUSTICE. MOTHERFULS MULTIFACETED APPROACH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE FINANCIAL STABILITY, FOOD SECURITY, HOUSING STABILITY, COMMUNITY COHESION, AND WELLNESS AMONG MEMBERS. MICRO-LENDING INITIATIVES AND EMERGENCY FUND GRANTS ARE INVALUABLE FOR COMBATING FINANCIAL INSTABILITY. STABLE HOUSING PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF MOTHERS AND CHILDREN ALLOWING THEM TO THRIVE OUTSIDE OF THE HOME. MOTHERFULS CO- HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, UPON ITS LAUNCH IN 2026, WILL CONSTITUTE AN INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION TO HOUSING INSECURITY. MOTHERFULS FOOD PANTRY AND COMMUNITY GARDEN PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO NUTRITIONAL FOOD, A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF A CHILDS PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. MOTHERFUL ALSO OFFERS COOKING CLASSES THAT EMPOWER WOMEN TO PREPARE HEALTHY AND BUDGET- FRIENDLY MEALS. THE COLLECTIVES HOLISTIC SUPPORT AROUND FOOD CAN HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

THE MOTHERS FUND GRANTS AND MATERIAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR SINGLE MOTHERS MOTHERFUL SEES ITSELF AS PART OF A DYNAMIC ECOSYSTEM BUILT ON EXISTING COMMUNITY ASSETS. WITH AN EYE TOWARD MAXIMUM COLLECTIVE IMPACT, MOTHERFUL PARTNERS WITH LOCAL CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, FAITH-BASED GROUPS, AND DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SURROUND MEMBERS WITH A NETWORK OF CARE THAT CAN ADDRESS ALL OF THEIR NEEDS AS THEY ARISE. MOTHERFULS RESOURCE GARAGE AND FOOD PANTRY ARE OPEN TO MEMBERS 3 DAYS A WEEK THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR AND ON SUNDAYS FOR NON-MEMBERS. MOTHERFUL HOSTS VENDORS FROM VARIOUS RESOURCE AND SOCIAL SERVICES PARTNERS SUCH AS MID-OHIO FOOD COLLECTIVE BENEFITS WORKERS, URGE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH REPRESENTATIVES, MOBILEJUSTICE PRO BONO LEGAL ADVISORS. AS A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ORGANIZATION MOTHERFUL PRIORITIZES THE CARE OF BIPOC SINGLE MOTHERS THROUGH COLLECTIVE SERVICES ENCOMPASSING COMMUNITY, RESOURCES, EDUCATION, ARTS, AND WELLNESS. THE COLLECTIVE HAS PARTNERED WITH THE OHIO WOMENS ALLIANCE, UNITE FOR REPRODUCTIVE AND GENDER EQUITY, THE ABORTION FUND OF OHIO, AND RESTORING OUR OWN THROUGH TRANSFORMATION. THIS FULL SPECTRUM OF CARE COMMUNICATES TO SINGLE MOTHERS THAT THEY ARE VALUED AND SUPPORTED, AND CHILDREN CAN THRIVE WHEN MOTHERS ARE CARED FOR IN SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE WAY.