Mountain Momma Maternity Services

Mountain Momma Maternity Support aims to improve infant and maternal health and well-being through resources, education, and connection. We address gaps in rural maternal care by providing: 

1) The Maternity Closet is a boutique-style material resource where families can receive FREE essential baby, prenatal, and postpartum items they need. This program is donation based, so the items in stock depend on recent donations. Our biggest ask from families are diapers, formula, clothing, and breastfeeding supplies. 

2) Evidenced-based educational classes are held quarterly, focused on prenatal, labor and delivery, and lactation. Community feedback has led us to add special classes such as pediatric CPR/First Aid, Pelvic Floor Therapy education, Postpartum Sexual and Mental Health. All classes are led by local experts in their field. We currently have 11 classes scheduled for 2026. All classes are FREE because accessible perinatal education is essential for empowering expectant/postpartum parents with knowledge, reducing anxiety, and improving birth outcomes! 

3) Connection and support is crucial to the mental health and well-being of moms! MMMS has created several other spaces and events that gather moms, or dads, together to meet others, talk about life, and feel supported. Postpartum Mental Health Support Group is held on the third Friday of each month, and Pregnancy and Infancy Loss group is held quarterly. We also host events such as Coffee Dates at Kanawha Cafe (second Fridays), Pigtails and Pints (partnered with Southern Steele to teach dads how to braid their daughters hair), and are adding more events each month!

We will be using donations from Give Local Alleghany to 1) address diaper need and 2) increase local resources/education in the Highlands. 

The National Diaper Bank states "Diaper need is the inability to afford a sufficient supply of diapers to keep a baby or toddler clean, dry, and healthy. Affecting roughly 1 in 2 U.S. families with young children, this issue forces parents to stretch diaper supplies, leading to severe diaper rash, increased infections, and high emotional stress." Diapers cost approximately $70–$100 a month per child. Because diapers cannot be purchased with food stamps (SNAP) or WIC, families either pay a high percentage of their income or 1 in 4 parents miss work because they can’t afford the diapers required for childcare. Clean diapers are a basic need of every baby and toddler. 

As part of the Maternity Closet, we provide a monthly diaper distribution directly to the two YMCA Early Learning Centers, Dolly Ann Apartments, and Mountain View Apartments. Families submit a support request and pick up their items at the school or leasing office. They are able to receive diapers, wipes, and clothing at no cost, monthly! This allows us to meet families where they are. So far in May, we have distributed 961 diapers!

Local maternal education is crucial because it empowers women with health knowledge, boosts autonomy, and directly improves child survival, nutrition, and cognitive development. Educated mothers better navigate health systems, leading to lower maternal/infant mortality and higher utilization of prenatal care. It costs approximately $75-$100 to host each class, and we do not charge a fee to attend to remove financial barriers to participation. 

Thank you for supporting us in our mission: providing "rooted support for growing families."