Community Corner
Mom Inspires Others to Mobilize to Make a Difference
Rebecca Kahlenberg of MoverMoms started the group to encourage moms and their children to participate in local community service projects. Sponsored by Grape Nuts.
About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains.
Facing the Challenge
For the past six years, Rebecca Kahlenberg has had a goal of mobilizing her friends and their children to nurture the community by making a positive difference.
She established a vehicle for that very purpose, a non-profit organization called MoverMoms that now has more than 200 moms and many kids.
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"In order to make a positive difference, we have service projects at local homeless shelters, at charity athletic events, at the county jail, and in many other places," Kahlenberg says. "We also do an international service trip to El Salvador each summer."
Finding the Inspiration
"What inspired me to take on this challenge is that, as the mother of four daughters, I believe it's very important to instill good values in our children and to emphasize the importance of service to others," Kahlenberg explains.
"Through MoverMoms, hundreds of women have been able to model the importance of service for their children."
Find out what's happening in Kensingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Reaching the Goal
Kahlenberg believes that she has succeeded at her goal of spreading the spirit of community activism -- but she didn't do it alone.
"Yes, I think I have succeeded, but only because I have such an amazing and dedicated group of women in MoverMoms, as well as a very supportive and wonderful family and community of friends," she says.
Volunteering together means service becomes not only more meaningful but also more fun, she adds. The group's wide range of projects include meals for sick children and their parents, for recovering addicts, homeless families and others; as well as a current events group at a women's shelter and collection drives that respond to crises such as earthquake and hurricane relief.
"MoverMoms for me has been a vehicle through which I have been able to organize numerous service projects and thereby have a positive impact on the local and larger community," Kahlenbery says. "I am very grateful for having this opportunity."
Read more: MoverMoms Collects Extra Halloween Candy for Treats-4-Troops
MoverMoms Plans First International Trip to El SalvadorMoverMoms Builds Its Salvadoran State of Mind