Under The Juniper Tree Postpartum Support Network

05/18/2026

Looking to come on board with us to help serve? Sign up as a volunteer here!

This is the official volunteer application for Under The Juniper Tree Postpartum Support Network. Please provide your contact information as well as your skills so we can find where you fit best!

05/07/2026

May is Postpartum Mental Health awareness month🌸

Did you know that postpartum mental health challenges are significantly more common in Alabama than in many other parts of the country?

Recent data shows that nearly 16% of new moms in Alabama report experiencing postpartum depressive symptoms—well above the national average. In some areas of our state, that number is estimated to be as high as 1 in 5 women.

The Reality for Alabama Moms:
• A Growing Need: Alabama currently ranks 43rd in the nation for postpartum depression prevalence.

• Resource Gaps: Many of our counties are considered "resource dark zones," meaning there is a critical shortage of mental health providers specialized in maternal care.

• The Treatment Gap: Sadly, about 75% of women impacted by these conditions nationwide go untreated.

• It’s Not Just the "Baby Blues": While many expect symptoms to fade early on, statistics show that significant symptoms can appear as late as 9 or 10 months after giving birth.

Maternal mental health isn't just a "personal struggle"—it's a public health priority. If you or a mother you know is struggling, please know you aren't alone, and it is okay to ask for help.

Resources for Support:

📞 National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) for free, confidential support 24/7.
📞 Postpartum Support International (PSI): Visit postpartum.net for local Alabama resources and online support groups.

Let’s keep the conversation going and make sure no mother in Alabama has to walk this path alone. 🤍

05/01/2026

We want to say HUGE thank you to our Founding 10 sponsors for your generous donations and support for our Mothers Day fundraiser. It has officially closed!

We have gathered the foundation to begin our journey to nonprofit status and we are well on our way there! Reaching our goal to begin serving moms in October is on the horizon so keep an eye out for more events coming from Under The Juniper Tree!

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 4:19

04/27/2026

This is the last week to sign up for our Mother’s Day fundraiser, we already have 7/10 baskets filled thanks to so many amazing people!

The last day to snag a basket is May 1st, so grab one for your mom while they’re still available 💚 don’t need a basket but still want to help? Make a donation: Venmo

04/25/2026

Postpartum healing is a long process, and having the right support system can be the difference between an easy recovery and a challenging one. Even after the first 10 weeks many women juggle physical symptoms such as hair loss, pelvic floor issues, and night sweats.

What recovery symptoms and challenges did you experience postpartum? Tell us in the comments!

04/23/2026

At Under The Juniper Tree, we believe that one of the best ways we can support Mothers is by providing the right nutrition to support her mental and physical recovery! 🧠

That’s why every mom we serve will receive a loaf of bread made with freshly milled grain, and a home cooked meal designed to contain the building blocks to help her recover.

Want to be a part of serving? Send a DM to our page to sign up as a volunteer!

Don’t have the time to volunteer? Donate to our Mother’s Day Fundraiser and receive a lovely gift basket where you can taste the home-milled bread we will be baking for yourself! 🍞💚

04/20/2026

Edit: Only 3 Baskets Left!

It’s time to plant the seeds for this ministry with our Mother’s Day “Founding 10” Fundraiser! 🌱🩷

We have a solid roadmap to start serving mothers this coming October, and the first step of that entire journey starts right now. A new nonprofit for postpartum support in the Wiregrass is planting its roots, and we are looking for our first Founding 10 sponsors!

Under the Juniper Tree is built to bridge the postpartum isolation crisis that affects 1 in 5 Alabama mothers. Our mission provides handmade freezer meals, fresh-milled heritage bread, and trusted, in-home respite visits. We have the vision; we just need our initial partners to establish our legal and professional foundation.

How to Become a Founding 10 Partner (10 Spots Only!):
We are asking for just 10 friends and neighbors to commit to purchasing a gift basket which will contain 1 loaf of home milled sandwich bread, 1 vintage tea cup, and 1 box of organic tea to go with it! The baskets will cost $35 each. They are the perfect gift for any mother this Mother’s Day!

Where Your $35 Goes:
Your gift isn’t just buying a basket; it is a direct sponsorship for our nonprofit foundation. It fully funds our legal filing for non-profit status, our ServSafe professional certification, and our first bulk order of heritage grains for our fall pilot families.

To Claim a Spot:
Comment "Founding 10" below, or send us a direct message! As each spot is filled, we will mark off a Mother’s Day flower on our tracker!

Your $35 creates a lasting brick in the foundation of the village we are restoring for Wiregrass mothers. Thank you for walking this road with us.

Don’t need a basket but want to help? Donate any amount to our Venmo and give a mother the gift of community this Mothers Day!

Venmo:

04/14/2026

You may be wondering, “how does this program work?”

Here is exactly how your donations are put to work:

1. The Referrals: We are working with local medical and crisis centers to identify mothers in our community who are isolated, food-insecure, or at high risk for PPD.

2. The Nourishment: Each month, these moms receive a 'Village Basket' featuring fresh-milled, clean-label bread (packed with the protein and vitamins new moms need) and a nourishing meal.

3. The Respite: This is the heart of what we do. While Mom eats her warm meal, our vetted volunteers provide 1–2 hours of in-home respite. Whether she needs to shower, nap, help tidying up, or just to sit in a quiet room, we are there to hold the 'Village' space for her.

4. The Duration: Each mother is supported for a full 'Semester' (12 weeks) to ensure she moves past the most critical postpartum hurdles.

The Timeline:
We are currently in the early phases of securing our nonprofit status. Once we reach that goal, we can begin serving!

It is a big leap of faith to begin this journey, but we know that when God highlights a need, he simply asks for obedience to meet it. We believe that the people of this community will stand behind us as we support these women who are answering the most important call, to raise little souls who love Jesus Christ!

04/13/2026

It’s often said it "takes a village" to raise a child. But in Alabama—and specifically in our rural Wiregrass area—that village is missing.

The statistics are devastating.

While the rest of the nation averages 1 in 8, in Alabama, 1 in 5 new mothers struggle with postpartum mental health.

Our mothers are isolated, often living in Maternity Care Deserts where getting basic support means a 30+ minute drive.

And perhaps most shockingly, 1 in 4 Alabama children live in food-insecure households. Food insecurity is the top predictor of maternal depression.

Our aim is to fill that gap while showing the love of Christ to the women in our community by being the village we all need during one motherhood’s most mentally vulnerable periods.

References:

https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/measures/postpartum_depression/AL

https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/reports/alabama

https://alarise.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Alabama-Arise-2026-priorities-hunger-relief.pdf

04/12/2026

Hi everyone! I'm Victoria Hughes, and I am so honored to welcome you all into this space.

As a mother of two myself (that's my crew in the photo!), I know firsthand that the journey of motherhood is beautiful, but it can also be incredibly taxing. There are days when the "pouring out" feels constant, and the physical and emotional exhaustion are real.

My dream of this nonprofit sparked when I came upon the story of the prophet Elijah in the Bible. In a moment of total burnout, he collapsed under a Juniper tree and simply told God, "It is enough." He could not go any further. Instead of judgement, The Lord met him where he was--providing him with fresh bread and water. An angel told him:

"Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you."

That is our mission. At Under The Juniper Tree, we want to be that place of rest for local moms. Whether it's through a warm, home milled loaf of bread, a hand with the laundry, or a few hours of quiet rest while we watch the baby, we are here to say: the journey is great, but you don't have to walk it alone.

📍 What We Do:
We are a local nonprofit serving Dothan, AL. with:
- Nourishment: Fresh-milled freezer meals and artisanal breads
- Order: Light tidying and household resets
- Rest: Respite care to allow mom a nap or a hot bath.

We are just beginning our journey to become a fully legal 501(c)(3), and I am so excited to have you as part of our village!

Stay Tuned -- our first Mother's Day fundraiser launches right here on April 20th!