After seeing an appeal about the lack of donations the food bank was experiencing over the summer months, we again did a collection of food items during August. Our local newspaper covered the story with a short article and a photo and hopefully generated some publicity for the food bank.

During 2008-2009 we completed several service projects. In November we did a Thanksgiving collection of non-perishable food items for the New Holland Food Bank. Members donated several boxes of food to the food bank. We once again decorated a tree for Historic Poole Forge Park's benefit display to help raise funds for maintaining the park. The park relies on service clubs, businesses, and other organizations to provide decorated trees and displays for this fundraiser. Visitors are charged admission to see all of the trees and the money is used for various park improvements. Our tree featured smäll karamell decorations, typical of those made by Swedish children to resemble the candy crackers common in Europe, and was topped with the MOMS Club logo. Our members enjoyed making these decorations together with their children. We also surrounded the tree with childrens' books containing the many different wonderful holiday stories that we enjoy reading to our children. Our most recent service project consisted of collecting needed items for a local women’s shelter, Milagro House, which operates in Lancaster. Milagro House offers women and their children the support they need in order to get an education to be able to become self-sufficient to support themselves and their family. We collected items that are needed by moms everyday, such as household cleaning supplies, toiletry items, non-perishable food items, and clothing. During the hard economic times that are upon us, our collection service projects have been especially appreciated.

Service projects for 2007-2008 included Library Rover and a Christmas tree at Poole Forge. Our Library Rover service project benefits the Elanco Library Children's Programs. We purchased an 18” dog-shaped bank, named him "Rover", made a sign for him and gave him an ID tag. He was then donated to the library. Rover is roving all over New Holland and surrounding communities, helping to collect money to fund the children’s programs at the Library. Club members lined up 22 local businesses to doggy-sit Rover for a period of 2 weeks. An annual schedule was set up and Rover was sent on his way to collect for the library. Over $200 was collected by Rover in the first year alone. We also participated in the Christmas Tree display at Historic Poole Forge Park. We decided that we could help out by decorating a tree for the display since our members certainly enjoy their playground. Our tree featured popcorn/cranberry garland, candy dot chains, pretzel wreaths, gingerbread boys and girls and other hand-made decorations. Our display included a long scrolling letter to Santa alongside a plate of cookies, stockings waiting to be filled, presents and a train under the tree. The tree was topped with a Santa hat bearing the MOMS Club logo. Our thanks to Lowe's of Morgantown for donating the tree that we decorated.

We completed two service projects for 2006-2007. Our chapter assisted at the Open House for the newly planned New Holland Recreational Center by manning the prize booth for the children's games. Also, our chapter provided publicity and volunteer support for the Angelina Foundation 1st Annual Walk & Family Fun Day. Our members hung fliers; entered info into website calendars; contacted radio stations, television stations, newspapers, and other organizations about publicizing the event; entered info into website calendars; contacted local businesses and churches about listing the event on LED signs; and obtained donations in support of the walk from various corporations. Members also beaded bracelets that were sold to support the Angelina Foundation and volunteered at the walk.

The Angelina Foundation benefits the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Metabolic Disease Research Department. The Angelina Foundation was started by one of our former members after her family's experience with a metabolic disease.

Service projects for 2005-2006 included contributing money to the Mother to Mother (M2M) fund to help Hurricane Katrina victims and a donation of a minivan full of clothing, toys, and babycare items to Corner of Hope Clothing Bank. In summer 2006 we made 45 blankets for Project Linus. Project Linus provides love, a sense of security, warmth, and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, homemade blankets. Three of our blankets were red, white, and blue and were sent to the TAPS memorial service in Washington, DC to be given to children who have had a parent killed in military operations in the war in Iraq. The other 42 blankets were distributed to various local hospitals, women's shelters and a children's home. Blankets were also given to individuals upon request such as hurricane Katrina victims who relocated to Lancaster County. The picture at the right shows the blankets we made.

The service project for 2004-2005 was for Sierra's Bears, an organization that benefits mothers who have lost their babies at birth by providing teddy bears so they have something to take home with them from the hospital. Lancaster Women & Babies Hospital is a participant in the Sierra's Bears program and was the recipient in June 2005 of 20 teddy bears collected by the MOMS Club of Garden Spot. We were able to replenish their inventory, which had dwindled to zero.

What a great feeling to be able to give back to other mothers and children in our community!