When I first became a mother, I quickly realized that raising a family takes more than love; it takes community. Along my journey, I have experienced multiple pregnancy losses, maternal mental health struggles, and the challenges that so many parents quietly carry. Those experiences inspired me to create Community Motherhood, a local business in Edmond dedicated to reducing isolation and improving maternal well-being by helping moms find connection and support through support groups, classes, events, and resources.
My personal experiences and my work with Community Motherhood have opened my eyes to the incredible network of nonprofits throughout the Oklahoma City metro.
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Whether providing essential resources, walking with families through grief, supporting children with special needs, or empowering parents to thrive, these organizations remind us that no family has to face life’s challenges alone.
Kids Joining Eternity
Founded by Melanie and JB Edwards, Kids Joining Eternity (KJE) was created from a deeply personal experience of child loss and a desire to ensure that no grieving family has to walk alone. As a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KJE provides bereavement support for families who have experienced the loss of a baby or child while also connecting them with others who understand their grief. Through remembrance ceremonies, family retreats, walking groups, parents’ nights out, community outings, memorial projects, and other meaningful events, KJE creates opportunities for families to honor their children, build lasting connections, and rediscover hope and joy.
The organization also provides thoughtful care packages to grieving parents. They offer comfort, encouragement, and a reminder that they are not alone.
Another meaningful outreach is their annual Mother’s Day card campaign, which reaches bereaved mothers with messages of love and support. Through partnerships with hospitals, healthcare providers, and community organizations, Kids Joining Eternity has sent hundreds of Mother’s Day cards to mothers across Oklahoma and throughout the United States.
Their vision extends beyond grief support. They foster improved mental health, stronger families, and a compassionate community where no one has to grieve in isolation.
This organization holds a special place in my heart. After participating in the annual Remembrance Ceremony and Family Retreat last year, I experienced firsthand the comfort and connection KJE provides to bereaved families. Soon afterward, I was invited to join the Board of Directors to help further its mission. It was an opportunity I gladly accepted because KJE’s commitment to supporting families aligns so naturally with the work I have been doing through Community Motherhood. Since joining the board, I’ve participated in advocacy efforts at the Oklahoma State Capitol and outreach to healthcare providers throughout the metro.
Oklahoma Family Network
For families raising a child with a disability, complex medical condition, or special healthcare need, Oklahoma Family Network (OFN) provides invaluable support, resources, and connection. Their mission is to inform and connect individuals with special healthcare needs, their families, and professionals to services and support throughout Oklahoma.
Through programs such as The NEST Program, Child Loss and Bereavement Services, Families Fighting Childhood Cancer, CHATS, Sprout & Shine, and Transition Services, families receive both practical resources and emotional support.
One of OFN’s greatest strengths is its parent-to-parent model, connecting families with others who understand their experiences.
I’ve had the privilege of building a special connection with Tamra Crabtree, one of OFN’s NICU Family Support Partners. Through her, I’ve seen firsthand the heart behind this organization. Tamra works closely with families in the INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center NICU, facilitating support groups, connecting parents with resources, and creating opportunities for families to share their stories through the We Saved You A Seat podcast. Her compassion and dedication are a beautiful reflection of OFN’s mission.
The Hope Center of Edmond
For more than 40 years, The Hope Center of Edmond has been a cornerstone of support for families. Serving Edmond and Arcadia residents since 1984, this community nonprofit lives out its mission of “Helping Our People in Emergencies” by providing essential resources that help families regain stability and hope.
The Hope Center offers fresh food packages designed to feed a family for up to a week, along with household necessities such as diapers, wipes, toiletries, laundry detergent, and feminine hygiene products. Families can also access a clothing room stocked with infant through adult clothing, toys, books, and other household items.
Their Health Clinic provides WIC resources, prenatal and nutritional education, and supplies for women and children through age five. In addition, the organization offers financial assistance for qualifying families who need help with rent, utilities, or medical expenses, as well as holiday assistance programs that bring joy to families during the holiday season.
One unique aspect of The Hope Center is its Hopefully Yours Resale Shop. Donated items that cannot be distributed directly to clients are sold in the store. Every purchase helps fund the Hope Center Health Clinic and provides fresh food for families in need.
Personally, The Hope Center has become one of my favorite places to support. When my family has clothing, toys, or other household items to donate, we take them here. I’ve had the opportunity to meet some of the caring staff in the Health Clinic as well as the friendly volunteers at the donation drop-off area, and their kindness reflects the heart of the organization.
I’ve also enjoyed shopping at Hopefully Yours. I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety of items available. It’s a hidden gem that allows the community to give back while discovering great finds!
Infant Crisis Center
For more than 40 years, Infant Crisis Services has been a lifeline for Oklahoma’s youngest and most vulnerable children. Founded in 1984, the organization was born from a simple but powerful belief: no baby should go hungry. Today, that mission continues by providing life-sustaining formula, diapers, food, clothing, and other essential baby items to families experiencing financial hardship.
Infant Crisis Services goes beyond meeting immediate needs. Every family receives a week’s worth of diapers, formula, and food, along with essentials such as wipes, bottles, and clothing. Client Services Managers also connect parents with additional community resources.
Through the BabyMobile, the organization extends its reach even further, delivering essential supplies directly to communities throughout the state and ensuring that help is available when families need it most.
During the holiday season, Community Motherhood spearheaded a diaper drive benefiting Infant Crisis Services. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we collected enough diapers, wipes, formula, other baby essentials, and toys to fill four large donation bins.
Delivering those donations was incredibly rewarding, but what impacted me even more was touring their facility. Staff and volunteers carefully sort, organize, and distribute donated items, which gave me an even deeper appreciation for their dedication. Infant Crisis Services isn’t simply providing diapers and formula. They are giving families hope, dignity, and the reassurance that their community is standing beside them.
Project 66
Since 2010, Project 66 Food & Resource Center has been helping fight food insecurity by serving individuals and families throughout Edmond, Arcadia, Guthrie, Jones, and Luther. As a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and partner agency of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, Project 66 is committed to ensuring that no family has to choose between paying bills and putting food on the table.
In addition to providing nutritious food, the organization connects clients with valuable community resources, including healthcare services, English language programs, and assistance with rent and utilities.
Project 66 is unique in its client-choice food pantry. Rather than receiving a pre-packed box of food, families shop for the items that best fit their household’s needs. I have had both family members and clients utilize their services. And I hear over and over how much they appreciate being able to select their own groceries. This approach allows parents to choose foods their children will actually eat while accommodating food allergies, medical conditions, cultural preferences, and special diets.
Project 66 does more than provide food; they empower families. Their work is a wonderful reminder that supporting families often begins with something as simple, yet as essential, as putting nourishing food on the table.
Arise Single Moms
For more than two decades, Arise Single Moms has been empowering single mothers. Founded in 2002 by Pam Kanaly and Shelley Pulliam, this 501(c)(3) nonprofit exists to walk alongside single moms, providing encouragement, practical resources, and a supportive community where families can thrive. What began as a grassroots effort has grown to reach more than half a million single mothers across all 50 states and 140 countries, including approximately 10,000 moms each year in Oklahoma.
Arise recognizes that single mothers often carry tremendous responsibilities, and they don’t have to do it alone.
Through inspiring events, leadership development, online resources, and community connections, the organization equips moms to navigate life’s challenges while building stronger futures. Signature events like the Thrive Gathering, Red Day Run, Summer Send-Off, Golf Scramble, and Jingle Jangle create opportunities for single moms to connect, learn, and be encouraged alongside others who understand their journey.
I first became familiar with Arise Single Moms when I met co-founder Pam Kanaly at a networking event. It was immediately evident how passionate she is about serving single moms throughout the Oklahoma City metro and beyond. As someone who supports mothers through Community Motherhood, I deeply appreciate organizations like Arise that intentionally invest in mothers, knowing that when a mom is supported, her children and her entire family benefit as well.
We are fortunate to live in a community filled with organizations that genuinely care about families. While each nonprofit serves a different need, from pregnancy and infant loss to food insecurity, diapers and formula, special healthcare needs, and support for single mothers, they all share one common goal: ensuring that no family has to face life’s challenges alone.
If you or someone you know could benefit from the services these organizations provide, reach out. And if you’re looking for a meaningful way to give back, consider volunteering, donating, or sharing their missions with others. Every act of kindness, whether it’s donating diapers, attending a fundraiser, volunteering your time, or telling someone about an available resource, has the potential to change a family’s story.
