Food and fellowship make support group fun

WESTVILLE - Any parent will tell you that sometimes it's nice to spend time with other adults while the kids amuse themselves.
Mothers or grandmothers looking to get together for friendship, fellowship, support and encouragement can drop by St. Bee's church in Westville each week.
"It's mothers supporting mothers. We offer encouragement in what, we believe, is one of the most important jobs in the world," said Nancy Armstrong, one of the group's founders along with Veronica MacDonald.
There's plenty to keep the children entertained.
"There's a play time with activities for the children," said MacDonald. "It's an opportunity for mothers to chat."
To sweeten the deal, literally, there's coffee and home-baked goodies, or tasty treats from The Coffee Bean.
Mother Pam MacKarney has been spending her Thursday mornings with the group and enjoys the time there with her daughter, Jessica Toblo.
"I would say it's kind of like stress-relief. You're away from home and Jessica has a place to play. It's a relaxed atmosphere."
Armstrong said they got the idea by hearing of mothers who might like and benefit from such a group.
"There were some mothers that we knew of, we had met, who were struggling as single parents with raising children; some had support, some didn't have any. We felt there was a need. We wanted to be able to pray for their needs and support them as well. God gets involved in a deeply personal and determined way when you let Him."
Both MacDonald and Armstrong said Christianity played a big part in helping them raise their children.
"That's how we coped," Armstrong said.
The primary goal of the group is to offer support to mothers and grandmothers in Westville.
"We intend to focus on Westville," said MacDonald. "But it is not a drop-in and it's not a babysitting service."
The program has been running since late October and runs Thursdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m.