05/27/2025
Faith Happenings by Shelley Knight, as seen in the Fulton Sun
We are proud of our FMC clients and the mothers from the community who join us for social and educational gatherings. We host an outreach support club for moms with children from birth through early elementary school age. These moms come to us from Fulton, Jefferson City, Mokane, and Columbia. Our goals with the 'Moms Loving Littles' club are to build social connections and fellowship with other mothers who are focused on positive parenting. The Moms Loving Littles Club meets once a month and is led by talented Volunteer Leader Stephanie Cole and me. We have several mothers and their children who gather in the FMC home for fun, food, fellowship, and prayer. We look forward to this monthly meeting, and the women have expressed interest in starting a Bible study together this summer. Volunteers and an FMC staff member create an enjoyable playtime for the littles, with smiles and giggles often overshadowing occasional tears of separation from mom.
We also offer educational workshops for moms in the evenings. We have partnered with MU Extension for nutrition classes, which are always a big hit. Kimberly Cullom, Youth Program Associate, teaches two, four-week sessions. Moms learn in class and then cook together. The moms are learning about safe surfaces to avoid cross contamination, food prep safety, and working safely with knives and cutting boards. Upon completion, moms can earn a small appliance.
Earlier this year, Katherine Deeken, Field Specialist in Nutrition and Health, led My Plate classes that focused on creating balanced meals for children. Our Program Director, Charlotte Overton, greatly values these instructors and classes for our circle of women. "The mothers did enjoy learning how to cook on a budget and how to make meals that use different foods, all nutritionally rich and low-cost. It was good to learn what goes into a balanced plate of food for their children." Additionally, MU Extension offers incentives such as cutting boards and measuring cups.
Moms have the opportunity to attend financial workshops through Central Missouri Community Action (CMCA). Emily McGee, CMCA Financial Coach here in Callaway, was a shining face at the FMC home. She led a four-week session on budgeting, savings, credit scores, and individual financial security. Moms learn, often for the first time, how their credit score impacts other areas of their life, such as applying for a rental home and car insurance rates. The resources FMC moms receive from CMCA are extremely valuable and position mothers on the path needed to be successful as young parents. Charlotte noted that "Mom G. enjoyed learning about the importance of a high credit score and opening a regular bank account. Mom C. got excited about Skills Up and how they can assist her with getting back into school and on a career path for a medical technician position. This will be a stepping stone for her to pursue other nurse tech programs to prepare her to work in a hospital."
One overarching focus of the FMC program is to help mothers grow towards healthy, sober independence for long-term lifestyles. We embrace the CMCA Theory of Change, which includes three areas of growth: Family Well-Being, Building Positive Social Connections, and Building Economic Stability.