Zionsville Moms Group Is Impacting Entire Community Through Service, Fellowship & Fun
Writer: Suzanne Huntzinger
Photos Provided by Zionsville Moms Group & Ryan Woodall
There’s a moms group in Zionsville that’s doing special things not just for moms, but for the entire community.
Zionsville Moms Group (ZMG) started about 10 years ago as a traditional moms group. The group provided an outlet for moms to meet, bring their children for some social interaction and perhaps participate in some fun activities. The group still offers that outlet. With eight different playgroups and Stroller Stride (A chance to get some exercise with your baby and enjoy some fresh air) for different age levels and different days of the week, Zionsville Moms Group has grown to almost 200 members.
But the group has evolved into so much more.
“You can choose how much you want to be involved,” says Allison Miller, ZMG Board Administrator. “Some just want to be a part of our Facebook group. Others like to be involved in all the activities. We have something in it for everyone.”
As much as all of us moms love our kids, there’s no denying all of us could use a Moms Night In and Moms night out. ZMG’s Moms Night In happens every other month and brings moms together at a member’s home for an evening of food, drinks and socializing. Only comfy clothes allowed. Moms Night Out is also every other month and gets the ladies out of the house for some pampering. The group has gone for massages, shopping, dinner, mani-pedis and other fun activities.
As much as moms just want to have fun, keeping young kids entertained is a priority, and ZMG has it covered. Twice a month, the group holds kids’ events where the kids go on an activity like creek stomping or visit a music playhouse to see a show.
All good groups have parties, and ZMG is no exception. Each quarter, the group throws a big party for everyone, including the whole family. One party was held in Stonegate neighborhood and offered bounce houses, face painting, balloon art and other activities. July’s party will be held at Azionaqua, Zionsville’s popular, long-standing community swim club.
“The parties are a great opportunity to get all the families together,” Miller says. “Being with your whole family is what being a mom is all about. It’s great to see so many people in the community getting together.”
ZMG extends their sense of community to charitable efforts too. Quarterly, the group participates in a charity event. The next charity event will be at the So Big Mountain House in Whitestown. So Big is a maternity home for women in need who are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy. The group will be doing some outdoor beautification work including mulching and planting flowers. As with the quarterly parties, the entire family is welcome to join in this giving experience.
The holidays are a special time to celebrate, and ZMG doesn’t miss the opportunity. The group celebrates by organizing a caroling outing for the kids at a local nursing home. The moms celebrate with a party at a member’s home. In keeping with the group’s giving spirit, the moms bring baby gifts like diapers or other baby items to be donated to a local charity.
It takes a lot to coordinate activities for such a large group and their families. To make it easier, ZMG has a board of volunteers which handles the various tasks. One board member plans the parties, another plans the mom’s night out. As the group Administrator, Miller handles the budget and finances, and another mom handles the charity events.
Despite the way ZMG has evolved to offer so many things for moms, the group hasn’t lost sight of the most important aspect of the group — providing a format for support and advice to moms. To that end, the group’s Facebook page has been a helpful forum for advice and support. The group has even expanded their main Facebook page to start a separate one for pregnant moms and moms with children under a year old. A member of the board stays informed of new pregnancies via other members, and she adds them to the special ZMG Facebook page for new and pregnant moms.
Members in this group receive pre-natal and postpartum care advice, and they’re invited to quarterly meetings to address their questions or concerns. Since ZMG always rallies around its moms, it’s no surprise that the group also organizes a schedule to bring meals to those new moms.
Zionsville Moms Group invites you to join them. Annual dues are just $30, and the sense of community is priceless. For more details, visit the group’s website at zionsvillemoms.wixsite.com/zionsvillemomsgroup or email the group at zionsvillemoms@gmail.com.
