Girl Scout Helps Single Mothers In Chatham With Gold Award Project

CHATHAM, NJ — A Chatham Girl Scout is working toward the Girl Scout Gold Award by helping single mothers around the Chatham community with her project, Mothers Matter.

Nicole Mueller will host a volunteer fair at the Library of the Chathams, 214 Main Street, on April 19 from 4 to 7 p.m.

The goal of the fair is to encourage locals to give back to their community.

With Mother's Day approaching, some single mothers will not be able to have a special day and might struggle to support their families, Mueller said.

Mothers Matter will host charities such as Community Food Bank, Prevention is Key, Navigating Hope, Habitat for Humanity, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Dress for Success and Family Promise, all of which are in need of donations and volunteers to assist single mothers.

Some charities have requested cleaning supplies, which will be collected at the volunteer fair. These items include toilet paper, paper towels, women's deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, bar soap and body wash.

Mueller told Patch that she wanted to start a project that would help single mothers through charities and raise awareness for these families because she knows how much mothers care about their children and others.

"I was raised by a single mom and thought about other single moms, who struggle to raise their families. I remembered a story about a single mom who moved to try to give her kids a better life and she needed a job but had no one to watch her kids while she interviewed. My mom was saying how fortunate we were to live in a great town like Chatham and have family nearby to help us," Mueller said.

Any community member interested in volunteering with these charities is encouraged to attend the fair and speak with representatives who will provide more information.

Mueller attributes her desire to make a difference in the community to her mother. "She works so hard for us and I know there are single moms who want to provide for their families but aren't as fortunate."

The Gold Award is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA, earned by Girl Scouts after meeting certain prerequisites.

"I know how much moms care for their kids but who will care for the moms who are on their own? That's where Mothers Matter started for me," Mueller said.