ESCONDIDO – A group of North County moms this month will host a Thanksgiving dinner for children who have been abused or neglected.
Members of the MOMS Club of Escondido-San Marcos will join nonprofit Casa de Amparo in hosting the dinner for 30 girls on Nov. 26 with the hopes of raising their spirits this holiday season.
“MOMS Club is devoted to helping mothers and children of our immediate community,” said Brandi Burke, president of MOMS Club of Escondido-San Marcos. “Our goal here is to help give these girls a moment of joy and respite from their daily battles.”
Casa de Amparo, a San Marcos-based nonprofit, has provided shelter and services to North County children from abused and neglected homes since 1978. The nonprofit will provide the food for the children, while the MOMS Club will provide decorations, plates and other supplies to make it a memorable event.
“Community and family is such an important part of life but unfortunately not everyone experiences community in a positive light,” said Julie Schlutz, who has been a member of the MOMS Club since 2017. “It can be especially hard for children around the holidays if they don’t have family or resources to enjoy a festive event. Our MOMS Club wanted to brighten these kids’ days and provide them a sense of community.”
Burke said the public can support the dinner by donating fall decorations or other supplies such as plastic water goblets and plates. Casa de Amparo also accepts donations throughout the year. The support from the community will make an impact, Schlutz said.
“I hope that the children have a fun dinner where they can relax and be taken care of for a little while,” Schlutz said. “I hope they get the opportunity to just enjoy themselves with the knowledge that there is a community in the world that wants to help.”
For more information about or to contact MOMS Club of Escondido-San Marcos, go to meetup.com/Moms-Club-of-EscondidoSanMarcos/. For more information about Casa de Amparo, go to casadeamparo.org/.
