MOSES LAKE — Christmas can be a really worrisome time for families with children, especially during tough economic times. However, when people are worried, moms come to the rescue. 

In this case, it’s Moms Helping Moms of Grant County, a Facebook group that carries over into real life on occasion, such as the toy drive that happened last weekend and is happening again Dec. 7 and 8 in the parking lot of Ross Dress for Less in Moses Lake. 

“We have our tent set up; we stand out there with our signs. It's fun,” said Jeannie Austin, who established Moms Helping Moms and still administers the Facebook group. “We ask the community to come stand out there with us. If they want to bring their kids, we offer an ornament station.” 

There will also be a chance to take photos with Santa Claus, who in his spare time is Andy Blauert, husband of Moms Helping Moms administrator Stephanie Blauert. 

Moms Helping Moms was organized in 2018 and did its first toy drive that year, Austin said.  

“There was a need for Christmas gifts,” she said. “Someone was like ‘Hey, do you know where resources are?’ and so Stephanie and I thought, ‘Let’s make a post in the group to see if anybody would be interested in helping families for Christmas.’ And it turned into this huge event that we do every year.” 

Moms Helping Moms isn’t looking for cash donations, Austin said, just gifts for kids of any age up to 18. The gifts should be unwrapped and new so that children can get something special to them rather than a hand-me-down. The first year of the toy drive, Austin said, they got a lot of trash that had to be hauled away. 

“So it’s new only,” she said. “It can be from the dollar store, it can be from Walmart, it can be from anywhere, as long as it’s new. Gloves and hats are a great thing. The boys love cars; the girls love makeup.” 

Nerf dart guns are really popular with boys, Austin said. Blocks and stacking toys are good for smaller children. 

“Girls like blankets,” she said. “We’ve often had little girls coming and asking, ‘Can we have the blanket that’s sitting there?’ and I’m like, well, no, but then later we make sure it’s in their basket for Mom and Dad to wrap under the tree.” 

What should people not donate? 

“Slime,” Austin said immediately. “No mom wants slime for Christmas. And avoid glitter.” 

The toys can be brought to the drive in December, or there are three drop-off locations: The Columbia Basin Herald, CJ’s Custom Meats and The Cutting Edge. Donors who can’t get to one of those locations can contact the group and someone will come and pick up the toys. 

The group’s members will get together after the drive to wrap the gifts and sort out who gets what, Austin said. They’ll be distributed at Rick’s Eatery in Moses Lake on Dec. 21, where owner Rick Biery has set up a Christmas tree and a chair for Santa. Moms Helping Moms members will wrap the presents to be given by Santa, Austin said, or just have them ready in bags so the parents can take them home, wrap them and put them under the tree. The latter option is what most parents prefer, she said. Moms Helping Moms has wrapping paper, scissors and tape for parents who need them. 

Moms Helping Moms of Grant County has more than 3,000 members, according to its Facebook page. Austin said members are from all over Grant County, as well as some from Adams County, especially around Othello. Its primary purpose is to let mothers help each other out with whatever they need, like diapers or clothes. The rules on its page are fairly simple: No selling, no asking for money, no drugs, tobacco or alcohol. Everything is either gifted or traded. There are a few other rules and safeguards built in to prevent anyone from being taken advantage of, Austin said. Dads or grandparents are welcome to join as well. Membership is by request only, and prospective members will have to answer some questions to make sure they’re really from the area and not a bot. 

“We just want it to be a safe space,” Austin said. “(People) are usually approved within a day … So whether you need baby clothes, diapers, milk, formula, or just a simple light bulb, you can ask in there. (A poster will say) ‘Hey, I have all these baby clothes I’ll trade for paper towels,’ and somebody says “Perfect, I got you. I’ll pick up the clothes.’” 

Moms Helping Moms has also held yard sales, where members donate clothes and come out to help fold and display the wares. 

Austin had no idea when the group started that it would balloon the way it has, she said. 

“I just thought it'd be a fun little group, you know,” she said. “And I'm so thankful that it's helped a lot of people. It's nice when … see people just working together in the community, and you don't even have to do anything. You just read the post and it makes you feel welcome.” 

Moms Helping Moms of Grant County can be found at https://bit.ly/MHMGC. Families who wish to be added to the list of recipients can sign up at the event or by contacting an administrator through the Facebook page. 

Editor's note: Jeannie Austin is an advertising sales representative with the Columbia Basin Herald.

Moms Helping Moms toy drive 
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 7-8
Ross Dress for Less parking lot
911 N. Stratford Road, Moses Lake 

    DJ Sweet, in his role as Santa, visits with kids at the Moms Helping Moms toy drive last weekend. The next drive will be Dec. 7-8, with Andy Blauert donning the red suit.