Red Deer and area parents are welcome to attend the Collicutt Centre on April 19 for the Momstown Community Celebration – a free event for mothers and children.

Momstown is a Central Alberta program that connects mothers, mothers-to-be and kids through a variety of programs, aimed at making motherhood more comfortable.

“Our main goal is to raise awareness of Momstown and our programs. We connect moms to businesses and to their communities,” said Tanya Kitchen Johnson, owner of Momstown.

At the community celebration, participants are invited to join in the ‘re-launch’ of Momstown, who have recently revamped web sites, updated programs and are inviting the community to be reintroduced to a fresh organization.

“It’s so important that it’s free. It’s not like a trade show where you are buying things. You can come and interact with things like crafts, seed planting and more.”

Momstown is a collection of community events and programs that help new, or even experienced moms get to know their children, provide proper care techniques and to learn about some of the community services available to them.

The programs are intended to help kids aged zero to six in the areas on art, literacy, music and science.

Momstown also offers support for mothers regarding post-partum depression, recipe ideas, inspiration for crafts and an array of articles that offer insight and information to parents.

“When I had my first baby, it was hard to find other moms, so when I found Momstown, I thought it was an amazing resource,” said Kitchen Johnson.

“None of my friends were having kids, so they didn’t know what I was going through.”

Kitchen Johnson became the owner of Momstown in 2011, one year after it began.

“I was about a month away from having my third child, and I knew that I didn’t want to go back to a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job. This is something I’m able to do with my kids and for the community.”

For Kitchen Johnson, Momstown was a way to relieve her post-partum depression, something that the programs has done for countless other women.

“Getting moms out and doing things with their kids, instead of sitting at home and thinking about how sad they are really helps.”

At the community celebration, there are things available for all ages of children, so parents with more than one child can bring them along, as there will be something for everyone, she said.

The event will include an interactive camping experience, prize draws that are free to enter, an Easter egg hunt, face painting, bouncy castles and more.

Local vendors will also be at the event to give out information on community services, programs and businesses that are directed at moms and their kids to enjoy.

Kitchen Johnson explains that for lots of moms with more than one child, this event is perfect because it doesn’t leave any age group feeling left out.

“It’s just a good way for families to experience events.”

She adds, “The world has changed for moms – we can go online, and on facebook for support, but Momstown gets women out of their house and connecting face-to-face.”

The Momstown Community Celebration will be held at the Collicutt Centre on April 19 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information, check out to www.momstown.ca.

reporter@reddeerexpress.com