The Lamorinda Moms Club is frequently covered in the local press, and welcomes inquiries. For recent coverage, click here. Club facts-at-a-glance and contact information are available for media representatives.

Lamorinda Moms Club—Facts At-A-Glance

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For more information about the Lamorinda Moms Club, please contact us.

Recent News

• Contra Costa Times, June 30, 2006
• Lamorinda Moms Club Celebrates Tenth Anniversary, May 9, 2006
• Lamorinda Moms Club Unveils the Best of Lamorinda 2006, December 5, 2005

Alliance Offers Moms a Respite

By Meera Pal, STAFF WRITER, Contra Costa Times

June 30, 2006

A week after Laura White's second child was born she was in the middle of that new-baby haze when her doorbell rang. At the door was a member of the Lamorinda Moms Club with a complete dinner of chicken in a mushroom sauce, rice, veggies and dessert -- with reheating instructions. "When you become a parent for the first time or the 10th time, your priorities are thrown toward the babies and their health and well-being," White said. "You don't have time to make a healthy dinner for yourself."

White joined the Lamorinda Moms Club in 2003, six months after her first son was born. Her only regret is that she hadn't heard about the group early enough to take advantage of its popular Mom Din program. White, a co-director, said Mom Din is just one of many helpful resources offered to club members. She joined after hearing about the club from a friend. "I don't have family immediately by me, and this club is a great resource," the Lafayette resident said.

This year marks the club's 10th anniversary. Since its inception in 1996, membership has grown to more than 500 moms (and dads). Members come from Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda, as well as cities nearby. It began with three Lamorinda moms who decided to form their own local club because other groups had grown too large. Their first meeting was at the Moraga Commons and 15 mothers showed up. According to its Web site, the club was formed to be "a group of women who could help each other out, make active friendships, and get to know others in the community."

Besides Mom Din, the club offers age- and neighborhood-specific play groups, social events, a baby-sitting co-op and countless resources through its Web site and monthly newsletter. "I've made so many friends through the club," said Lafayette resident and mom, Melissa Johnston. "Before this, I would be home during the middle of the week with nothing to do." Johnston, who oversees Mom Din, joined in 2003 after she had her second baby and quit teaching. "At first it was about joining a play group and being able to meet other moms with kids the same age," Johnston said.

The group's Web site sets up play groups by the age of the child or special interests, such as "Mothers with Twins" or "Expecting Moms." The group also offers a link for dads looking for tips on things to do without mom. Past ideas include, a day at Deer Hill Ranch in Lafayette and the Museum of Children's Art in Oakland. This summer, the club started a "Summer Fridays" program with members meeting at various Bay Area kid-oriented sites. Last week, it was a day at Tilden Park.

And, when not socializing club members volunteer their time with several community outreach projects like its annual Adopt-A-Family program, a coat drive for Shelter, Inc. and food drives for Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano counties.

For Johnston, the online discussion groups are also a great resource. When she was having sleep issues with her second child, she went online. "They had an incredible range of ideas," she said. She learned that keeping her children as busy as possible during the day makes for better sleep-filled nights. In addition to parenting issues, the club also helps mothers deal with life's issues. "We are all moms with kids in the same ages," White said. "We're all going through the same struggles and issues."

Reach Meera Pal at 925-952-5029 or mpal2@cctimes.com

Lamorinda Moms Club Celebrates Tenth Anniversary

ORINDA, CALIF.—May 9, 2006—Lamorinda Moms Club, the social and support club for families with children under five years of age in the neighboring Lafayette, Orinda and Moraga communities, today announced that the Club is celebrating its tenth anniversary this month. The organization, formed in 1996 by three mothers who were new to the Lamorinda area, was created to bring families together for social activities while creating a strong a network of support for new parents. Today, the volunteer-driven Club is 500 members strong, and remains true to its roots—offering a variety of social events like sub-clubs and playgroups, along with member and community support programs like mom-dins, online forums and a variety of philanthropic activities.        

“Even when we were small, and there were only 30 people involved, one of the core values of the group was to be a support system for parents,” said Brenda Balfrey, one of the Club’s first directors. “I’m proud to say that that initial foundation has remained firmly in place over the last decade. In addition to creating a social outlet for young children to get to know each other, today’s Lamorinda Moms Club is comprised of dedicated people who work very hard to provide that trusted support that every parent needs from time-to-time.”

Bringing Children and Parents Together
Over the years, the Lamorinda Moms Club has offered numerous ways to bring children and parents together for social activities and support. One of the key draws to the Club are its organized playgroups, which are designed to bring children of similar ages together to socialize on a weekly basis.

“Our playgroup has been meeting every week since our firstborns were first born,” says member, Stacy Crinks. “What started out as a social outlet for my daughter has become my key support center. In my playgroup, we rely on each other for everything—from emotional support to advice on parenting and personal relationships. It’s social, but this group is also my touchstone for all the little mysteries of motherhood.”

In addition to playgroups, the Lamorinda Moms Club offers other support, like Mom-Dins. This program organizes individuals across the Club’s membership to deliver dinners for parents-in-need—after the birth of a child or when there is an illness in the family. As with most other elements of the Club, Mom-Dins rely completely on volunteers who make and deliver dinners over a two-to-three week period.

There are also a series of social sub-clubs to give parents additional ways to meet and share common interests. Sub-clubs include the book club, which has been active since the clubs inception; a wine club; and the babysitting co-op, which employs a points system to “trade off” baby sitting services. There is also an active online discussion group with topics ranging from parenting advice to home improvement resources.

The Club also holds numerous events throughout the year to bring families together, including the annual Egg Hunt, Halloween Parade and Holiday Party. The Club also organizes the annual Preschool Fair each October, designed to help parents choose between the wide variety of preschools between Orinda and Walnut Creek. Each event attracts as many as 300 children. All events are created and staffed entirely by volunteer committees, and each gathering supports a specific philanthropic organization.

Giving Back to the Community
The Club’s core value of ‘support’ extends beyond the membership as well. The Club is affiliated with three primary philanthropic organizations, FamiliesFirst, Inc., The Bay Area Crisis Nursery and the Contra Costa County Food Bank. Over the course of the year, each of the member events not only draws families together, but also collect massive amounts of donated canned food, warm coats, and even holiday gifts for families in need.

For the last six years, the Club’s holiday party has also served as the gift collection center for the organization, FamiliesFirst, Inc. Each year, playgroups are asked to adopt a family-in-need from the organization and help fulfill gifts from the wish lists of kids and their parents. Each playgroup works together to collect donations, shop for and wrap everything from toys and DVD movies to Safeway gift cards and BART tickets. Ever year there is an impressive show of gifts. But last year, the outpouring of support and the generosity of the Club took the families and volunteers at FamiliesFirst by surprise.

“We have never seen such a generous showing of support for these families in need,” said Antoinette Harris of Families First, Inc. “These families received the help they needed at the toughest time of the year in the form of food and clothing. But even more remarkable, they were able to watch their children open Christmas gifts that they didn’t think they would be able to have that year. The families in the Lamorinda Moms Club gave our families at Families First a truly unforgettable Christmas.”

“I can’t describe the feeling of walking into the Holiday party to see a wall of beautifully-wrapped gifts, all going to families in need,” said volunteer and coordinator, Juliana Youn. “I’ve always been proud to be affiliated with the Lamorinda Moms Club, but the opportunity to meet some of the families we were helping elevated it to an entirely new level.”

Stepping Up
Since its inception a decade ago, The Lamorinda Moms Club has wanted the club to be affordable to anyone who wanted to join. The Club’s current annual fees are $40, not much higher than they were in 1996. Part of what makes the fee possible is the power of the volunteer organization.

“Every element of the Club relies on volunteer participation,” said Martha Woodard, current co-director. “It’s truly amazing how people with busy lives donate their time and energy to write and produce our monthly newsletter, coordinate fantastic events, organize and cook mom-dins, build our web site, coordinate monthly meetings and keep us connected with the community. This is truly a group that welcomes the support when it’s needed, and gives back when it can.” 

Join the Club
The Lamorinda Moms Club meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:45-8:45 at St. Mark’s Church in Orinda. For more information about the organization, visit http://lamorindamomsclub.org/.

ABOUT THE LAMORINDA MOMS CLUB
More than 400 members strong, the Lamorinda Moms Club is a social and support club for families with children under five years of age in the neighboring Lafayette, Orinda and Moraga communities. For nearly a decade, the organization has helped bring children and parents together for family-centered activities, education and support, while aggressively giving back to the community through a series of philanthropic organizations including FamiliesFirst, Inc., The Bay Area Crisis Nursery and the Contra Costa County Food Bank. For more information about the Lamorinda Moms Club’s events, membership and volunteer opportunities, please visit http://www.lamorindamomsclub.org/. 

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