Mamas for Mamas is a place where new moms struggling to make ends meet can get much-needed baby supplies and accessories. The charity is supported through donations by the community that end up on shelves in its well-stocked Karma Market, a boutique-like store where clients can find items free of charge. “Most of these families are low-income individuals,” said Anita Chowdhury, Mamas for Mamas branch co-ordinator. “They are facing poverty, whether it’s situational or economical. It could be emotional even. It’s any kind of poverty that’s impacting the family and making it very challenging for them to gather the essential, needed items to live.” Chowdhury says Mamas for Mamas is always in need of things like new and used baby clothing, cribs and car seats. “We are seeing a serious need for baby essentials; it’s our highest-priority need,” she said. “We are always looking for newborn diapers—size 1 diapers, diapers from sizes 4 to 6 and any kind of baby equipment (such as) strollers and infant car seats.” The Calgary branch opened in 2022 and now provides resource navigation and assistance to families in Calgary, Strathmore, Chestermere, Airdrie, Okotoks, High River, Cochrane, Banff and Canmore. Mamas for Mamas got its start on social media. “It was essentially a community network of people coming together, sharing donations, baby essentials and other basic-need items,” said Chowdhury. “In our Calgary branch, we help about 200 families a month; across the country, we have supported over 30,000 people annually, and through our Facebook pages, there are over 73 groups and over 280,000 members, and they all come together to support one another.” Chowdhury says many times, mothers that have benefited from the service will “pay it forward” and donate what they received back to the charity to help other mothers in need. “People feel really compelled and motivated to give back,” she said. “Even when they don’t have much to give, they find that (their) baby’s grown out of their clothing and now (they) have the opportunity to share that with another family that could use it.” Nicole Mwogbo is a single mom who needed help with her new baby, Amanda, who is now three years old. “I came in to Mamas; it was just a wonderful experience,” she said. “I got what I wanted, like diapers, wipes, formula, because at the time, Amanda was, I believe, 16 months old, so she needed all of that.” Mwogbo was so moved by the generosity of others that she now works for the organization helping other new moms get what they need. Danielle Lysk is a volunteer who goes through all the donations of bagged clothing. “We get all these amazing community donations, and then our job in here is basically going through those donations, looking through if there’s, you know, any stains or anything that we can’t put out,” she said. “But then we’re able to sort sizes and make sure that we have enough clothes stocked up for toddlers, babies, young kids, teens, women and men.” Simran Panesar says it’s a rewarding experience to volunteer at Mamas for Mamas. “One of my favorite parts has been interacting with the clients,” she said. “I was even able to help compile a New Mama Kit and give it to a new mom, and just seeing the look on her face—it was priceless.” You can learn more about the charity at https://www.mamasformamas.org/calgary/.
