ANTIGONISH, N.S. — It worked well in Calgary, why not Antigonish?
That was the thinking for Lacey Landry when she started up the private Facebook group Antigonish/Guysborough County Mamas, close to three months ago.
In no time, the group has grown to almost 600 members.
“I was part of a similar group out west and it was fantastic,” Landry wrote in an email to the Casket. “I never imagined it would take off like this but, clearly, there was a need for something like this in the community. We meet once a month for a supper; we have dates to socialize our kids together at parks, etcetera.
“We have even come together a few times to collect for moms in need. I have been brought to tears a few times, but we have moms with, or who had, cancer reaching out to each other, moms with special needs children, even just a mom having a bad day and needs a pick-me-up.”
The get-togethers are optional Landry explained, noting that is what many people like about social media; that they can do their sharing through the computer, from the comfort of their home, … and that is fine.
“The meet-ups are for those who want to,” she said.
Landry noted the group grows by invite only and members really appreciate that it’s local.
“We keep it local and that seems to be what they [members] like, that it is local,” she said, before talking about a fun contest they had when closing in on the 500th member.
“One of the girls offered up a gift certificate for a manicure. We wanted to reach 500 members so whoever invited that 500th member received the gift certificate … just to get more people to join,” she said.
Lacey said she asked the group about talking to the Casket, to receive their OK as well as an overall perspective from them.
“They feel like it’s a positive space where they can just reach out and, literally, talk about anything and everything,” she said, noting that works because of the respect for privacy amongst the members.
“We do mental health checks; a colour coded heart to see where people are at and see if they need others to reach out,” she said. “That’s what we do; we reach out to people in need and we just talk about what is for supper, baby formulas, you name it. We just feel like it is a free space and a total resource of information … and we make each other laugh.”
What is off limits is medical advice or suggestions, Landry said.
“Because some people might take that info and run with it,” she said. “We do have some rules and, again, it’s private… so no negativity whatsoever, just positive, all the way.”
