Fifty-six moms, one cause

Millstone and Roosevelt moms take care of their kids, each other and the community.

Nicole Laureno, 4, and other children examine the fire trucks at the Millstone Township Firehouse during a tour the fire department gave to MOMS Club of Millstone members and their children on June 12. The 56 stay-at-home and part-time working moms that comprise the MOMS Club of Millstone Township may have joined the group looking for support and opportunities to share experiences with other mothers and their children, but their sense of community has grown much larger than that.E

very year since its inception in 2004, the local chapter has expanded its generosity, giving donations to the Mother to Mother Fund, which is the international nonprofit organization's official charity, to schools that serve their children through the PTO and to families in need via giving trees.

This year, the moms involved unanimously voted to serve the community at large by collecting funds for the Millstone Township Fire Department. Their fundraising efforts culminated in a $1,000 donation to the fire department, which had expressed a need for various safety equipment for its firefighters.

Top left: Gavin Normand, 3, examines one of the fire trucks. Left: Millstone and Roosevelt children look at the hose on one of the fire trucks. Above: OMS Club of Millstone members' children received a tour of the Millstone Township Firehouse on June 12. "The firemen and women have been so generous to us as a community," Beth Cotler, president of the MOMS Club, said. "They provide free reviews of homes to check and make sure everything is OK, free seminars on fire safety and awareness, and free firehouse tours. They are such a wonderful part of the community."

Cotler said the MOMS Club does not require its members to make donations, which speaks volumes of the local chapter membership's generosity.

"They are so generous with their time and energy and gifts," she said. "We don't force members to contribute, but everyone gives what they can."

The club, which is open to mothers from Millstone and Roosevelt, provides its members with a wide range of low- or no-cost monthly activities for mothers and their children, age newborn and up. Club events include day trips, educational sessions, playgroups, seasonal outings, holiday parties, book clubs, walking clubs and moms' nights out.

"There are so many different benefits of being a member," Cotler said. "Getting to know neighbors with children of similar ages going to the same school system is just one of them. The kids get to know each other as well. My son, who just finished kindergarten, knew half of his class from the MOMS Club."

Cotler said members can pick and choose to attend as many monthly activities as they like, depending on their interests and schedules.

"We're low key and there's no stress," she said. "Members come to the events that they enjoy and their children like."

Other club resources include the Helping Hands Committee, which provides support to moms who have a new baby, an illness in the family, an impending move or general need for help with meals and child care.

The club holds its meetings at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The monthly meetings feature guest speakers and discussion on topics such as health, fitness, nutrition, child safety and CPR. During the June 12 meeting, the club visited the firehouse where firefighters provided mothers and their children with tours of the fire trucks and a talk about fire safety.

Established in 1938, the Millstone Township Fire Department currently has 15 firefighters and 10 career firefighters. Between May 2008 and 2009, the firefighters responded to approximately 340 calls, according to Pyhel.

"They are a very community-oriented organizationmade up of individuals who are excellent role models for children," Nicole Pyhel, a MOMS Club member, said of the fire department.

Pyhel said the club is in the process of forming a committee to expand its community involvement. Currently, the club is selling advanced tickets at a discount to Freedom Fest Fair July 7-12 at the Horse Park of New Jersey.

For more information about the tickets, contact Maureen at maureensaxton@ yahoo.com. For more information about joining the MOMS Club, call Nicole Pyhel at 609-439-9324 or email her at bnpyhel@optonline. net.