From the outside, Mamas for Mamas is modest.

It鈥檚 in a storefront in a 鈥�70s style strip mall, dwarfed by nearby high-rises that house some of the region鈥檚 power companies.

But step inside and it becomes immediately clear there鈥檚 something more impressive taking shape than the building鈥檚 outer shell portends.

Those inside buzz with an excitement that comes from creating positive change in the world around them.

Shannon Christensen is at the helm of this small army of women. She started Mamas for Mamas in 2014, with a Facebook page aimed at tapping into the sharing economy.

鈥淚t was a bit about 鈥榣et鈥檚 be mamas together,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淚nstead of selling, let鈥檚 give and share what we need.鈥�

It was a way forward that had both economic and social payback.

There was less impact on landfills to pass down items that children have done through and it created social ties that local women were looking for.

The need, she said, was demonstrated through the uptake. When she created the page there were 32 members. Within weeks there were 300 on board and by the end of the third month there were 3,000 members. Today Mamas for Mamas Facebook page has 12,000 devotees.

鈥淎s it started to grow we realized there was a need,鈥� said Christensen, and it extended beyond material items. Once the surface was scratched, women started talking about struggles that were putting them at risk.

鈥淢amas were living in poverty in 琉璃神社 and going without because they felt a stigma (associated with) reaching out,鈥� she said.

For many, rent accounted for 90 per cent of their income and they didn鈥檛 have the ability to make what was left over meet all their needs.

鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 about not being good enough it was not having enough,鈥� she said.

Once Christensen and her army of volunteers learned about the need they started to build a small empire out of her basement and two storage containers.

Then, this May, they made a leap. The moved into the building with green floor and purple walls 鈥� efficient, but not that inviting.

鈥淲e wanted to make it comforting,鈥� said Christensen.

To do that they turned to Jillian Harris, the 琉璃神社 based co-host of the home improvement TV show Love it or List It. The local celebrity has been a avid supporter of Mamas and its mission and she immediately rose to the challenge of finding a paint colour, as requested. Then she went full steam ahead with a complete revamp.

鈥漇he came in here and went, 鈥榦h girls, we have so much work to do鈥� ,鈥欌�� said Christiansen. 鈥淪he dipped her toe in, then jumped in the deep-end in about three days. It鈥檚 been surreal.鈥�

Now in what she calls a 鈥渟pace of hope鈥� Christensen and her team can provide mental health counselling, at risk comprehensive intakes鈥攚here they can access housing, health and safety needs 鈥� or simply provide warm gloves to those who need to stretch their budget.

The icing on the cake is that Harris wading in created a groundswell of support to meet the latter needs with stores offering up a significant supply of high-quality, new goods for both children and mothers.

鈥淭his started in my garage and three storage units and a van, so the fact we鈥檙e in a 4,800 square feet space that has been renovated by Sticks and Stones and Jillian Harris 鈥� and that isn鈥檛 just functional, it鈥檚 beautiful, filled with new goods that we get to give to mamas to improve their quality of life without breaking the bank,鈥� said Christensen. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to make me cry.鈥�

The more slick appearance of the operation isn鈥檛 going to sway Christensen from her starting point. The 20,000-plus items donated every month will still be shared among those who need it.

It鈥檚 just that more was needed and Christensen and her team weren鈥檛 willing to throw up their hands in despair when the needs started to make themselves known.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 believe in helplessless,鈥� she said. 鈥淲here there鈥檚 a mama there鈥檚 a way.鈥�

It鈥檚 a philosophy that keeps former clients returning.

Carly Banks once tapped into Mamas for Mamas network when she was in need and now she鈥檚 poised to become one of the pillars of support so many women in the city need.

鈥淚 felt like I didn鈥檛 have a place in the world鈥攐ther than the place to be a mom鈥攁nd it felt a bit stifling,鈥� she said, describing what brought her in.

The network she found was a step toward strengthening her reserves.

Similarly, Tanya Jahntz has found cause to move forward with the help of Christensen and now is a regular presence at Mamas for Mamas, helping those in need.

She lost both of her parents to cancer, and shortly after found herself to be homeless.

鈥淐hristensen gave me a position at Mamas to help build my self confidence again,鈥� she said.

And, from the way she held herself, and the ease in which she deals with those who walked through the door, it鈥檚 clear that Jahntz has found that confidence.

Christensen wants to keep passing that on and since becoming a registered charity in January, she can apply for grants that will keep the community she鈥檚 built alive and thriving.

The model is so successful that it鈥檚 spreading. What started as ahas now caught on south of the border and across Canada, with 30 chapters sharing the name.

Christensen said that it鈥檚 not so much overwhelming, as invigorating.

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

kmichaels@kelownacapnews.com
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