Last updated 5/4/03

Return Mother's Day to its original intention as a day to promote peace in the world

The Dover Sherborn Press
Thursday May 2, 2002

Honor mom by donating to charity this month

By Candi Carter CORRESPONDENT

In addition to the blooms of flowers you give your mom this year, a group of Sherborn women wants you to think about helping life to bloom with a gift in your mom's name to a charity dedicated to helping people heal from the ravages of war.

The women, Every Mother's Day, want to move the world to celebrate this Mother's Day as it was originally intended: a peaceful celebration of life.

"We just can't afford not to care," said Ridgely Fuller, one of the group's primary organizers. "I feel like every child that's in a refugee camp is my child."

Julia Ward Howe began Mother's Peace Day in 1872 as a day to celebrate the nurturing and compassionate nature of motherhood, according to the group. She saw mothers who raised their young boys into strong men sending them off to die in the Civil War.

Horrified by the massacre she saw during the war, she suggested that America set aside a day so that women could grieve for their lost sons and husbands and work toward a more peaceful world.

Since that time, Every Mother's Day members say the day has lost it original meaning in the flood of commercialism that surrounds it.

So, this year, the group of about 2o women wants people to remember their mothers by donating money to a charity that saves and nurtures lives throughout the world.

"What this really does, I think, is it educates people about the horrors of war," Fuller said.

The gift doesn't have to supplant the flowers and chocolates that often honor moms, said Trish Schnure. Instead, the gift can complement the flowers and chocolates and make them more meaningful. As flowers bloom, so will the donation and it will grow to help lives throughout the world, the group said. They can really complement each other," Schnure said.

'Every Mother's Day began organizing about four weeks ago. Since that time, the active group of women has worked hard to get the word out that Mother's Day should be about helping mothers throughout the world nurture life.They said the many wars happening throughout the world, which are often hurting many women and children, motivated them.

They've met with local politicians, handed out almost 1,000 information cards and visited businesses throughout the area. They've also started a Web site, www.everymothersday.org, and researched charities to suggest to people.

They've chosen four - Doctors W'thout Borders USA, Internaffonal Rescue Committee, Halo USA Inc. and the American Friends Service Committee - but people can choose any charity they want, Fuller said.

Now the group wants people to help spread the word nation- and worldwide via e-mail by typing up a quick message and passing it on to as many people as they can.

"We have a limited time, but there's definitely been a positive reaction in general," said Louise Coleman.

Their primary method, so far, though, has been the old-fashioned new-passing method of talking.

Giving for Mom Every Mother's Day says that people can donate to the charity of their choice to participate in this program. But the women have four organizations that they recommend. These include: Doctors Without Borders USA 1-888-392-0392 www.doctorswithoutborders.org International RescueCommittee 1-212-551-3000 www.theirc.org Halo USA Inc. 1-212-581-0099 www.halousa.org America Friends Service Comm. 1-215-241-7000 www.afsc.org For more information visit: www.evervmothersday.org or e-mail: at everymothersday@hotmail.com.