Hopefully, you’ve each been blessed by a show of support in a time of need.  For some, it may have been as simple as a loving friend dropping off a hot meal upon your arrival home from the hospital with a newborn.  For others, particularly those who have faced trauma, grief, and unspeakable loss, that support has been much more profound.  One of the side effects of motherhood (aside from crying at commercials and peeing at inopportune times) is a deeper empathy with other women and their families. This sensitivity, combined with our knack for multi-tasking, can be the catalyst for amazing things.

At our best, we turn inspiration into mobilization and fill a void for another woman who needs some extra support.  If you have a story of your own that you’d like to share, whether you’ve been moved to lend a hand or thankful that a hand has reached out to you we’d like to hear about it in the comment section below (we may even contact you to feature your story on our site).

Today, we’d like you to meet Janine Cuthbertson of Carbondale, CO.  She’s just one of no doubt many moms in our FOBAM community who have been inspired to act on their empathetic feelings.  We applaud her heartfelt efforts, along with those of myriad of other women in our community who may be as yet unrecognized, but no less special.

Janine’s story began in the checkout line at the grocery store where People Magazine’s 9/11 tribute cover caught her eye. The article profiled ten mothers (and their children) who were pregnant when the 9/11 attack took the lives of their husbands.  After tucking in her own girls that night, Janine read the profiles of each mother and child. She was brought to tears and said silent prayers for them, filled with overwhelming gratitude that her own husband was right there beside her.

Following the anniversary of the 2001 tragedy, Janine learned that it’s the days after the fanfare – when the tributes, phone calls, and recognition fade – that support is often needed most.

In recognition of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Janine rallied women in her own online community to write cards to the mothers featured in the People article.   She wanted to ensure that although the calendar day of 9/11 has come and gone, words of comfort and inspiration will still find their way to these moms in a time of need.

If you feel moved to join Janine and write a letter of your own:
•    Click here to read the full People article.
•    Write a card(s) to a specific mother(s) whose story touches you.
•    Seal the envelope(s) and write only her name on the outside.
•    Place your card in larger envelope and mail to:

Janine Cuthbertson
104 Garfield Avenue
Carbondale, CO  81623

Letters must be post-marked by 9/28.  Janine will send packages to each of the individual moms.

Founded by Janine Cuthbertson of Carbondale, CO, Moms for Moms Communities are hyper-local social networks for moms in the Western U.S. to connect, share information, find and offer support, and be inspired. The sites are engaging moms striving to build stronger communities in:  Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Rifle and Grand Valley, Colorado; Whitefish, Montana and Bend, Oregon.  Click here for more information.