News
Teen Honors Mothers in Need A Mother's Day Card To Help Other Mothers
By Judy O'Gorman Alvarez
Every year, sons and daughters of all ages are faced with the age-old dilemma of what to get Mom for Mother's Day.
Last year, Brendan Dibble, a junior at Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) in Lincroft came up with a creative, endearing way to honor all mothers by helping homeless mothers and their children.
For $10 each, Brendan, 16, is offering special greeting cards that will offer good wishes for Mother's Day and acknowledge the donation to Spring House, a long-term transitional home in Eatontown for homeless mothers and their children.
"People buy Mother's Day cards every year. This is easy to do - and you're helping someone who could use the help," says Brendan, a Manasquan resident who started the project last year to fulfill a Christian service requirement for school. CBA students spend about 50 hours of community service throughout their four years at the high school, and students may choose their projects. Some teens volunteer tutoring children, helping out at sports programs for children with disabilities, or collecting items for food banks. "We're encouraged to think of creative ways to help the community."
Brendan learned about Spring House from his mother, a supporter of the organization, and he decided he'd like to help the mothers. "I think what Spring House does for homeless moms and their babies is great," he says.
For the minimum of a $10 donation, the intended mother (or any other special woman in your life) will get an acknowledgment card cradling a tea bag. The card announces the donation and has a poem explaining the Spring House contribution.
"We are very lucky to have Brendan volunteering with us," says Eileen Higgins, executive director of The Spring House.
According to Higgins, a $10 donation goes a long way at Spring House. "Believe it or not, we can do a lot with $10, from providing diapers, to transportation for a resident to a work site," she says. "And for only $20, we can provide meals for the community dinners and supplies for our life-skills classes where the women build their skills. We are trying very hard at Spring House to help our moms move from homelessness to independence, and every dollar does count toward that goal."
Last year, Brendan raised $1,500. "This year I hope to raise at least $2,500," he says. "What better way to honor your own mother than to provide for a mother in tragic need of help?"
To make a donation and have a card sent to your mom, e-mail Brendan at brendanj.dibble@yahoo.com, or call (732) 223-1744.
For more information about how you can help support the homeless mothers and their children at Spring House, visit www.springhousenj.org, or call (732) 389-6090.
