2 Clubs For Moms Work Side-By-Side

By LAURA FRAZIER The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 10, 2008

LITHIA - A popular club for stay-at-home moms split its ranks, but its members say the separation was amicable.

When the MOMS Club of Lithia grew to more than 100 members, it was required by its parent organization, International MOMS Club, to divvy up its members.

Because most members live in FishHawk Ranch, the club created two membership areas that mirror attendance boundaries for the community's elementary schools - Bevis and FishHawk Creek.

Terri Fischer, president of the MOMS Club of Lithia-Bevis, said the split was a technicality.

"We're all very close friends, and we still try to do things together," Fischer said.

Shawna Kugler, co-president with Virginia Ross of the MOMS Club of Lithia-FishHawk Creek, said friendships forged in the original group remain strong.

"We all live in the same neighborhood, and you get to know these women really well," Kugler said. "It's the same with the kids. People tend to really come to the MOMS Clubs for playgroups."

Club activities and get-togethers provide plenty of playmates for Kugler; daughter Kaley, 3; and husband Tim.

"We have barbeques on Sundays so our husbands can meet each other," she said.

Fischer said her children, Drew, 4, and Mason, 3, have plenty of MOMS Club friends to play with, and through the club she has made quite a few of her own.

"It's great that I have adult conversation and we can discuss daily things that are weighing heavy on our hearts," Fischer said.

In addition to providing peer support for young mothers and playtime for children, the credo of MOMS - which stands for Moms Offering Moms Support - emphasizes community service.

The sister clubs team up for charity and community events, including a Christmas toy drive and a back-to-school festival. The clubs also teamed up in 2007 to hold Roll for a Cure, a bunko fundraiser that netted $8,000 for the American Cancer Society.

The FishHawk Creek club will hold a Bingo Night on May 17 to benefit The Dream Factory of Florida, a nonprofit organization based in Brandon that creates "moments of a lifetime" for children suffering from critical or chronic illness.

Members of the Bevis group are busy sewing blankets and gathering toys and books for Project Night-Night, a national nonprofit organization that promotes distribution of care packages to homeless children.

Fischer hopes to coordinate delivery of the care packages with Cynthia Pinckney, a Seffner resident who runs a ministry dedicated to feeding, housing and providing assistance to homeless people in the Brandon area.

Kugler said the clubs like to keep things local and that community service projects and other activities provide an instant "something in common" for moms.

"It gives you a sense of community," she said.

MOMS CLUBS OF LITHIA

The FishHawk Creek Club

This club meets at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday each month at FishHawk Ranch Osprey Club, 5721 Osprey Ridge Drive, Lithia. Its next big event is Bingo Night at 7 p.m. May 17 at the FishHawk Ranch Aquatic Club. Proceeds will benefit The Dream Factory of Florida. Tickets are $20 and include food and two drinks. The club needs food, drinks and door prizes for Bingo Night. For information, contact Shawna Kugler at (813) 653-9676 or shade527@tampabay.rr.com.

The Bevis Club

The club meets at 10 a.m. the second Monday of each month at Grace Community United Methodist Church, 5708 Lithia-Pinecrest Road, Lithia. Its next big event is a collection for Project Night-Night, an ongoing effort to provide care packages for local homeless children. The club needs new 30-by 40-inch blankets, sewing supplies, gently used stuffed animals, children's books and pocket-size toys for Project Night-Night. For information, contact Terri Fischer at (813) 843-9444 or momsclubbevis@yahoo.com.

MOMS CLUB OF LITHIA - BEVIS

MEETS: 10 a.m. the second Monday of each month at Grace Community United Methodist Church, 5708 Lithia-Pinecrest Road, Lithia.

CONTACT: Terri Fischer, (813) 843-9444 or momsclubbevis@yahoo.com.

EVENT: Collection for Project Night-Night, anongoing effort to provide care packages for local homeless children.

WISH LIST: The club needs new 30- by 40-inch blankets, sewing supplies, gently used stuffed animals, children's books and pocket-size toys for Project Night-Night.

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523 or lfrazier@tampatrib.com.