KENTVILLE, N.S. — They appreciate that sometimes moms need to find ways to make a dollar stretch further and they’ve made it their mission to help.
Annapolis Valley Frugal Moms Society – Helping Hands grew out of the original Annapolis Valley Frugal Moms (AVFM) initiative. AVFM Society president and co-creator Lisa Rose said it all started about 11 years ago after she was diagnosed with cancer.
She knew that she would be off work for at least eight weeks and started wondering how she would afford to live on EI. Along with her best friend, Natasha Vaughan, they started researching couponing in Canada and decided to share what they had learned with others in need of price discounts.
It has since expanded to include emergency food support and other forms of help. Rose said there have been times when the only way she could help was to listen. With no government funding, they rely on donations and volunteers who share their passion.
“It’s one mom helping another mom, and dads. We have single dads too,” Rose said.
She said it became so busy last January that she brought in two other administrators, Helping Hands co-ordinator Jodi Bishop and Monica Williams, who teaches canning and preserving techniques.
A third was added this past summer, Natasha Burns, who helps with fundraising. Rose said all bring their own unique strengths to the table.
She said there seems to be a stigma around people needing or asking for help in the Valley but it hit home for many during the COVID-19 pandemic that life circumstances can change quickly, especially with regard to employment and finances.
Helping Hands
Rose said Helping Hands started with a Facebook post last Christmas when they asked what the one thing is you would like to have if you could afford it. One mom said a vacuum cleaner, and Rose happened to have one she was not using.
This started a frenzy of trading among the members. Rose said it blew up their regular page to the point that she decided to start another specifically for this – Helping Hands. Items on the page are donated and given away for free.
Bishop said the initiative has kept her very busy. She has a 20-year background in nursing and said it’s always been important to her to help others. Recognizing the level of need in the community and the fact that Rose needed assistance, she got involved. Bishop said the level of need has certainly been highlighted this year by COVID-19.
“Especially if I do a live video or something to say that there are items at my home, on one given day there could be 30 people that come and pick the items up,” Bishop said.
She keeps bins filled with donated items at her home in Lakeville for members to come and take what they need for free. People are asked to take turns, wear masks, and use hand sanitizer.
They’ve now partnered with Just Kidding Kids Consignment and Funtastic Frenchy’s with the stores donating items for the frugal moms to give away.
The frugal moms are now providing Christmas food hampers as well. They did 10 specifically for seniors and two for single people this year in addition to family hampers.
“It feels good, especially when you go and drop those hampers off on the doorstep. The smiles, sometimes the tears of happiness that we see, that makes it all worthwhile,” Bishop said.
Her boys, ages 10 and 12, now help and Bishop said it’s been a good learning experience for them.
Rose said that even if a person can’t afford to donate, spreading the word is also helpful. For more information or to help, contact the Annapolis Valley Frugal Moms Society through its Facebook page or the Helping Hands initiative through its Facebook page.
