From the outside, Mamas for Mamas is modest.

It91裸聊视频檚 in a storefront in a 91裸聊视频�70s style strip mall, dwarfed by nearby high-rises that house some of the region91裸聊视频檚 power companies.

But step inside and it becomes immediately clear there91裸聊视频檚 something more impressive taking shape than the building91裸聊视频檚 outer shell portends.

Those inside buzz with an excitement that comes from creating positive change in the world around them.

Shannon Christensen is at the helm of this small army of women. She started Mamas for Mamas in 2014, with a Facebook page aimed at tapping into the sharing economy.

91裸聊视频淚t was a bit about 91裸聊视频榣et91裸聊视频檚 be mamas together,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚nstead of selling, let91裸聊视频檚 give and share what we need.91裸聊视频�

It was a way forward that had both economic and social payback.

There was less impact on landfills to pass down items that children have done through and it created social ties that local women were looking for.

The need, she said, was demonstrated through the uptake. When she created the page there were 32 members. Within weeks there were 300 on board and by the end of the third month there were 3,000 members. Today Mamas for Mamas Facebook page has 12,000 devotees.

91裸聊视频淎s it started to grow we realized there was a need,91裸聊视频� said Christensen, and it extended beyond material items. Once the surface was scratched, women started talking about struggles that were putting them at risk.

91裸聊视频淢amas were living in poverty in Kelowna and going without because they felt a stigma (associated with) reaching out,91裸聊视频� she said.

For many, rent accounted for 90 per cent of their income and they didn91裸聊视频檛 have the ability to make what was left over meet all their needs.

91裸聊视频淚t wasn91裸聊视频檛 about not being good enough it was not having enough,91裸聊视频� she said.

Once Christensen and her army of volunteers learned about the need they started to build a small empire out of her basement and two storage containers.

Then, this May, they made a leap. The moved into the building with green floor and purple walls 91裸聊视频� efficient, but not that inviting.

91裸聊视频淲e wanted to make it comforting,91裸聊视频� said Christensen.

To do that they turned to Jillian Harris, the Kelowna based co-host of the home improvement TV show Love it or List It. The local celebrity has been a avid supporter of Mamas and its mission and she immediately rose to the challenge of finding a paint colour, as requested. Then she went full steam ahead with a complete revamp.

91裸聊视频漇he came in here and went, 91裸聊视频榦h girls, we have so much work to do91裸聊视频� ,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� said Christiansen. 91裸聊视频淪he dipped her toe in, then jumped in the deep-end in about three days. It91裸聊视频檚 been surreal.91裸聊视频�

Now in what she calls a 91裸聊视频渟pace of hope91裸聊视频� Christensen and her team can provide mental health counselling, at risk comprehensive intakes91裸聊视频攚here they can access housing, health and safety needs 91裸聊视频� or simply provide warm gloves to those who need to stretch their budget.

The icing on the cake is that Harris wading in created a groundswell of support to meet the latter needs with stores offering up a significant supply of high-quality, new goods for both children and mothers.

91裸聊视频淭his started in my garage and three storage units and a van, so the fact we91裸聊视频檙e in a 4,800 square feet space that has been renovated by Sticks and Stones and Jillian Harris 91裸聊视频� and that isn91裸聊视频檛 just functional, it91裸聊视频檚 beautiful, filled with new goods that we get to give to mamas to improve their quality of life without breaking the bank,91裸聊视频� said Christensen. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 going to make me cry.91裸聊视频�

The more slick appearance of the operation isn91裸聊视频檛 going to sway Christensen from her starting point. The 20,000-plus items donated every month will still be shared among those who need it.

It91裸聊视频檚 just that more was needed and Christensen and her team weren91裸聊视频檛 willing to throw up their hands in despair when the needs started to make themselves known.

91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 believe in helplessless,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲here there91裸聊视频檚 a mama there91裸聊视频檚 a way.91裸聊视频�

It91裸聊视频檚 a philosophy that keeps former clients returning.

Carly Banks once tapped into Mamas for Mamas network when she was in need and now she91裸聊视频檚 poised to become one of the pillars of support so many women in the city need.

91裸聊视频淚 felt like I didn91裸聊视频檛 have a place in the world91裸聊视频攐ther than the place to be a mom91裸聊视频攁nd it felt a bit stifling,91裸聊视频� she said, describing what brought her in.

The network she found was a step toward strengthening her reserves.

Similarly, Tanya Jahntz has found cause to move forward with the help of Christensen and now is a regular presence at Mamas for Mamas, helping those in need.

She lost both of her parents to cancer, and shortly after found herself to be homeless.

91裸聊视频淐hristensen gave me a position at Mamas to help build my self confidence again,91裸聊视频� she said.

And, from the way she held herself, and the ease in which she deals with those who walked through the door, it91裸聊视频檚 clear that Jahntz has found that confidence.

Christensen wants to keep passing that on and since becoming a registered charity in January, she can apply for grants that will keep the community she91裸聊视频檚 built alive and thriving.

The model is so successful that it91裸聊视频檚 spreading. What started as ahas now caught on south of the border and across Canada, with 30 chapters sharing the name.

Christensen said that it91裸聊视频檚 not so much overwhelming, as invigorating.

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

kmichaels@kelownacapnews.com
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