Big Bear City, CA — The MOM Project has been offering free services, resources and classes to Big Bear parents since 2001 and, says Director Megan Meadors, “Everything we offer is free, and all of our classes at the MOM Project are by donation only—that’s how we work.” The MOM Project (available to both moms and dads) operates under the Bear Valley Community Healthcare District and, as founding Director Marilyn Vecchio once told KBHR, “Our goal is to nurture physically and emotionally healthy families.” Meadors is continuing this effort and, per the healthcare district’s acting CEO Rudy Shutta, “She is doing a great job for this community. Marilyn Vecchio did a great job with the MOM Project program, and Megan’s stepped in and hasn’t missed a beat. The MOM Project is a valuable asset to our community, and we are the model for San Bernardino County.”
In addition to a full resource center, including a free library for parents, the MOM Project offers parenting-specific classes. “We are a parenting and education resource center for parents of children ages zero to 18,” says Meadors. “We even do a parent-planning class and pregnancy workshop, so we help families all the way up. Parents are our clients at the MOM Project.”
Class offerings starting this, the first week in March, include a new Music and Movement class on Wednesdays, Toddler Tumbling on Thursdays, and the popular Read to Me on Fridays. Meadors says it is never too late to sign up for any of the free classes offered at the MOM Project—which isn’t just for moms. “We’re doing Nurturing Father classes on Monday night,” she adds, “it’s from 6 to 8pm, and dads get free dinner! This one is just for dads, and Tony Vecchio is teaching dads how to have healthy interactions with their kids, while also learning from their own fathers. Nurturing Fathers is also a mentoring program, so we have dads mentoring the younger dads.”
All of the classes and programs offered are free at the project, currently located at 1221 E. Big Bear Boulevard at the Highway 38 turnoff in Big Bear City (though they are scouting for a new site). Open Monday through Thursday 8am to 5pm and until 1pm Friday afternoons, parents can always stop by for a calendar of activities, also posted outside. Special offerings coming up will include not just new classes but clothing swaps, including an opportunity in May, to trade kiddie snow gear with other parents. For more information, stop by the MOM Project or give them a call at 585-5607.
Free classes at the MOM Project are made possible by funding provided by First Five San Bernardino, Arrowhead United Way and the Community Development Block Grant, in addition to in-kind services provided by the Bear Valley Community Healthcare District.
