Community Corner
Lake Ridge Moms Club Offers Family Community Involvement
The club welcomes new members during its Sept. 8 Open House.
In our early days of living in Lake Ridge, I walked our dog a lot. For the simple means of getting out of the house once a day, I'd strap on the baby carrier and we'd hit the sidewalks. I scouted the area for fellow at-home moms with strollers, and to my dismay, it was amazing how quiet this bustling community could be when on the hunt for a friendly conversation.
Establishing new roots in a community is difficult for anyone, but add a child to the mix, and the situation can become desperate awfully fast.
Enter the Lake Ridge Moms Club, like a beacon of light. It saved me from my dreary days of Target browsing and TBS reruns. The club offered me the social outlet that I needed as a new stay-at-home mom, and didn't judge me if I had spit up on my shirt.
The club’s weekly playgroup, held on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. at Canterbury Woods Center, offered me a place where I could talk with fellow moms, while my toddler played, and my newborn did what newborns do. My involvement in the club grew, as did my social network in the community, making me feel much more connected to Lake Ridge as a whole.
The Lake Ridge Moms Club is hosting its annual Open House on Thursday, Sept. 8, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Tall Oaks Community Center, 12298 Cotton Mill Drive. Prospective members will be able to meet some of the fellow moms and leaders of the club and find out all of the opportunities and fun events planned for this year.
The club has had a strong presence in the community for over 30 years. Originally meeting once a week as a playgroup in the building on the corner of Old Bridge Road and Oakwood Drive, the playgroup developed into Lake Ridge Creative Preschool, and the moms club evolved into a large organization, offering a wide variety of social opportunities, playgroup, community service, fitness activities, and a babysitting co-op for its members.
Lake Ridge Moms Club president Kerry Coleman-Proksch has been in the club for five years. She also joined the club when her oldest son was born. “I really find being able to share our experiences as moms very helpful. I also really enjoy being able to serve the community and provide a resource for fellow moms in Lake Ridge.”
The club holds a monthly general meeting at 7:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at Tall Oaks Community Center, which features educational presentations and relevant discussions for the members.
Lori Reed is beginning her seventh year in the club. Like Coleman-Proksch, Reed has held several leadership roles in the organization, including being the club’s vice-president for the 2011-2012 year. “I love the general meetings, learning something new and chatting with other moms.”
Recently general meeting topics have included organic foods and understanding nutrition labels, Community Sponsored Agriculture and composting presentation by a master gardener, presentation on breast cancer self-exams by the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, and bra fittings by a Maidenform representative, time management activities, and dealing with mommy guilt with a local life coach.
The club’s community service projects focus on helping local organizations through donations for coat drives, blood drives, the annual March of Dimes walk, as well as volunteering for Hilda Barg Homeless Shelter, BARN Transitional Housing, and ACTS Food Pantry.
“I love the Community projects; it means so much to help locally and teach my kids to help others,” said Reed.
While the club’s foundation of support, social and education opportunities, and community involvement remain constant, the specific events are constantly evolving. “I feel that our organization really tries to grow and change as our members grow and change,” said Coleman-Proksch.
Last year, the club added a fitness committee, providing regular activities such as circuit training and family hikes for club members and their families. This year, a focus of the social committee is to provide more social events for the school aged children in the club.
Reed added, “I don't know much about other mom's clubs, but our club has something for everyone.”