Northport Mothers Center

About Us

OUR HISTORY

We were established in 1977by eight women with the help of the Family Service League and called themselves "Mothers for Mothers". In 1979 the organization went "public" in a manner of speaking by offering a Baby Comfort Station during the Northport Cow Harbor Day. Since then, our Baby Comfort Station has become an institution of sorts, at each Cow Harbor Day.

In 1980, Mothers for Mothers became the Family Resource Center a/k/a The Mothers' Center to reflect our concern for the entire family. The keystone of The Mothers' Center has remained the same which is the discussion groups that have grown out of those original meetings in 1977.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership to The Mothers’ Center provides you with programs, social connections and our monthly newsletter.

PROGRAMS

We offer a variety of programming selections at The Mothers’ Center for a nominal fee. This includes professional speakers and discussion groups on parenting issues, relationships (including your spouse, in-laws, family, and friends), relaxation (cooking, crafts, hobbies, and exercise), and activities with your children, i.e. Mommy and Me groups, educational workshops and play groups. Discussion groups are lead by trained facilitators. A certified social worker that is also a former member of our center provides the training. Programs are offered during the day and evening. Daytime classes are generally from 9:30-11:00 in the morning and from 12:30-2:00 in the afternoon. Evening programs usually run from 8:00-9:30. Childcare is available for daytime programs. Childcare fees include a snack as well as arts and craft supplies. Depending on the make-up of the group, the workers follow a loose routine which involves free play, snack time, music, stories, and art activities.

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

For social connections we offer events for mothers, children, and the family. We run a wide variety of events both day and evening. We host a Wine and Cheese party to welcome our new members and foster connections between them. Weekly playgroups are offered at the center as well as at local playgrounds. For a nominal fee, members can join our babysitting co-op. We also provide meals for mothers. If you have recently given birth or have a family crisis (such as a family member who is severely ill), we will provide meals delivered to your home. We are here to offer our support and friendship.

NEWS AND INFORMATION

We share news about our center via our monthly newsletter and website. In the newsletter you will receive information about the programs, speakers, and various social connections. Each month includes a calendar listing everything that is going on in the center.

WAYS AND MEANS

The Mothers’ Center is run by and supported by our members. We are a cooperative organization. We ask every member to contribute in some way. We have a variety of positions that fit in with our members’ skills, interests, and time available. (details on positions)

Fundraising provides the monetary support for our center. In order to keep our membership dues and programming fees low, we run fundraisers to offset the cost of our rent, insurance, speakers, childcare, and newsletter.

Our biggest fundraiser of the year is our annual Holiday House Tour. The House Tour is held the first Saturday in December. The House Tour consists of four houses, each of which is decorated in a different theme. Ticket holders can purchase the decorations and listen to a variety of live musicians and singers. As part of the tour, we have a “Tea House” where we serve tea, hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and homemade cookies. We ask our members to contribute in some way for this fundraiser. This includes working a few hours the day or the tour, decorating the houses the week prior to the tour, selling tickets, etc. We can find a way for our members to help that fits with their schedule and time available. We do ask all of our members to bake cookies for the tour.

Our Beliefs