The Hingham Mothers’ Club was founded in 1940 with the mission to promote civic and community welfare and sociability. Today the Hingham Mothers’ Club continues that tradition by supporting families, students, and seniors in our community. The Club is a volunteer, non-profit organization committed to scholarship and helping those in need.
With the support and hard work of a fabulous group of women, last year the Hingham Mothers’ Club made significant contributions to The Diane Edson Fund/Wellspring and the Hingham Mothers’ Club Scholarship Fund among other local charities and causes. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make that happen. When I think about what I love about Hingham and this Club, it’s the Moms that make stuff happen! This year, in addition to the HMC Scholarship Fund and local charities, our efforts will benefit Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore, an organization that we have enjoyed a partnership with over many years. With your help and generosity, the HMC will build a new learning center and play space for homeless children.
As the fall schedules are shaping up and we’re running from work to school, from music to soccer, from dance to hockey, we’re reminded that we can do more and we’re needed to do more for our community. As much as we live within the comfortable bubble of Hingham, winter is coming, the economy is still suffering, and our neighbors need us. The numbers are daunting…the parents of over 800 families are unemployed, more than 100 families depend on the Hingham Interfaith Food Pantry for groceries every month. This is in Hingham, not a far away place; these aren’t people you’ll never meet, chances are, you know them. They are our neighbors, their children go to school with our children.
So despite the busy schedules, I ask you to take a moment, think about what you can do to make Hingham a better place. Consider joining the Hingham Mothers’ Club, an organization focused on community service, specifically serving our Hingham community.
As I’m writing this note, my kids are choosing Halloween costumes, but we’re already planning for the Festival of Trees. As our largest fundraiser, it really determines what we can accomplish for the year. And this year, we’re adding an exciting new party, co-hosted with the Hingham Newcomers Club, Treeview! Last year, Festival of Trees proceeds went to the Wellspring/Diane Edson Fund and the Hingham Mothers’ Club Scholarship Fund. The HMC donation to the Wellspring/Diane Edson Fund went directly (no administrative costs were taken out) to a Hingham family in need. I’ll never forget when one of our members called one afternoon. She sounded concerned and asked how we could mobilize to help a Hingham family about to lose their home. Within 24 hours, the donation check was brought to Wellspring who directly handed it over to a worthy family down on their luck. The family was to be evicted later that week as their house had gone into foreclosure. Our donation would fund their temporary housing for a few months preventing a Hingham family from becoming homeless. The member who called that day had hope in her voice that was contagious, she said, "We’re women, we take care of each other, we can do this." I’m reminded of those words and how important it is to take care of our larger family in Hingham for ourselves, for our children, and for others.
The HMC Scholarship Fund is a long-standing tradition to reward and recognize high school seniors for not only their academic and extracurricular achievements, but also for their commitment to community service. Demonstrating the principles of the Hingham Mothers’ Club, these amazing high school students inspire us to do more and we hope to motivate them to continue on their path of service and success.
Look out for more details about upcoming events this year: Mom and Tot Community Service, Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon, Treeview, Festival of Trees, Holiday Party and gifts for Friends of the Homeless, and Bunny Breakfast. There are so many ways to help – from baking cookies to planning an event, and everything in between. So get involved and make stuff happen!
