They say it takes a village to raise a child, but where can mothers find that village?  The Mom Walk Collective of Orange has been helping moms build their village by offering free events where moms and kids can get out of the house to stroll and socialize.

For more than two years, moms from the Orange community have met twice a month with their young children for walks, coffee and connection.  Although the Collective encourages fresh air and health through its main initiative, The Mom Walk Co. offers much more.  It is a community for moms to build relationships, gain parenting tips and gain support.

“We get moms telling us how they’ve been looking for something or someone to connect with,” says Desiree Wagner, mom of two, who has been co-hosting the Orange Collective for about a year.  “Often, first-time moms are so afraid to leave the house.”

Alex Amendola, mom of two and co-host of the Orange sector, says many first-time moms join the walks to find that it is the first activity they’ve done alone with their kids, which reassures them that the group is creating a welcoming environment.

“They’re coming to a safe place,” says Amendola, who after discovering The Mom Walk Co. of Newport, on Instagram, reached out to Founder Jamie Easton to become an ambassador for Orange.  Amendola co-founded The Mom Walk Co. of Orange and has been leading it ever since.

Together, Amendola and Wagner make space in their sometimes-hectic mom schedules to guarantee two walks a month that are always free and kid friendly.  Walks typically start at a coffee shop, so that moms are nice and energized, followed by new member introductions and icebreakers.  The walks are often through Old Towne, ending at the Plaza Park fountain, which offers kids a chance to play with each other while the moms mingle.

Amendola and Wagner keep the community informed about walks through social media.  They make sure to reach out to local businesses to sponsor events, giving moms yet another reason to keep coming.  Moms can find themselves getting discount codes to stores or winning great prizes, like the recent hairstyling and product giveaways from mom of three, Liz Gress.

“It’s really cool to be able to give back and do what I love,” says Gress, a hairstylist for 25 years.  She wanted to give back to the community that helped her through the toughest of times.  After the loss of her eldest daughter, Gress found herself struggling with the birth of her second daughter and needed to find a support group.  She considered joining other groups, but then found The Mom Walk Co. and realized all she had to do was show up.

“I showed up and kept showing up, and I made a lot of really good friends that way,” she says.  Now Gress preaches to anyone she can find about the Collective that helped her build her village.

Gabrielle Paredes, mom of five, met Gress at The Mom Walk Co. when in search of a group after birthing twins. Paredes found not only a friend, but a mom who changed her life. Gress was an inspiration to Paredes, who soon found herself on a weight loss journey.  Paredes is very thankful for Gress and the great experience with The Mom Walk Co. of Orange, which, alongside her family and community, make up her village.

Amendola and Wagner agree that it’s important for moms to give themselves grace and take help where they can get it.     “Moms who might not have their village, or family here, or friends…we’re helping them build their village,” says Amendola.

To check out upcoming walks in Orange, visit www.instagram.com/TheMomWalkCo.Orange
For more information about the Collective:  www.TheMomWalk Collective.com