Be Better Than Yesterday: By Helping To Bring Christmas Cheer

Christmas is here. All the shopping is complete, and the aroma of feasts to come are wafting from kitchens everywhere. Friends and loved ones are getting together (albeit, this year, in a responsible, socially distant manner). While they may not have to trudge through a blanket of white, glistening snow, they will still be sitting around decorated trees, singing carols, and opening gift after beautifully wrapped gift. Hearts are warmed as kisses are exchanged under the mistletoe and children's faces beam with excitement as they realize Santa has fulfilled their every wish. Is this not the ideal, picturesque vision of Christmas to which we have all become accustomed? Unfortunately, for some, this is no more real than the sugar plums dancing in our heads as we all settle down for a long winter’s nap.

Two gems of the Enfield community, Lauren Andrews and Kari Monteforte, the founders of Two Moms on a Mission, have been working since 2012 to help bring this dream of a Merry Christmas to families in need of a little hope.

“A couple years ago, we had a neighbor tell us the story of a family in need of help” said Monteforte. “They were struggling to just put food on the table to say nothing of getting gifts for their children for Christmas. We took them on, 100%, no questions asked. Not just the children but the entire family. They were so grateful; tears were streaming down their face. And it was the most heartwarming thing to make a difference for this family and give them some hope for a better tomorrow.”

Founded over eight years ago, the goal of Two Moms on a Mission is to provide immediate support and spread hope and cheer to whomever in the community is in need. Through their efforts, this organization is able to assist everything from other groups who serve our community to families who may need help getting their children back-to-school clothes and supplies. Thanks to donations, fundraisers, and grants, Two Moms (a registered 501(c)3) has been able to donate over $120,000 to the Enfield community

“We say this at all of our events,” said Andrews. “We are not Two Moms. Our whole entire community is Two Moms because Kari (Monteforte) and I cannot do this work without the help of every single person who helps us. So while we may say Two Moms donated, it is really the whole community who came together to donate. And we are grateful to everyone who does.”

As the 80’s song by Madonna says, “We are living in a material world.” With the bright displays of the season and marketing campaigns convincing us more Christmas can be given by shopping at {insert store name here}, it can be easy to forget that, for some, the “Christmas experience” is a luxury. As we get together today in friendship and fellowship, let us remember the true spirit of the season. Let us be thankful for the blessings bestowed upon us. And of course, let us be grateful for people like Lauren Andrews and Kari Monteforte who try to bring at least a modicum of joy to families and children in our community. If we retain that spirit throughout the year and support organizations like 2Moms on a Mission, things may not be perfect. But perhaps it will help give some an outlook, today, that was a little better than it was yesterday.

For more information about 2 Moms on a Mission, please visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/2momsonamissionct/. You can also contact them at 2momsonamissionct@gmail.com.

Merry Christmas!!!