The Village Hosts Its First Stroll Supporting Moms & Families

SANTA MONICA, CA — Parenting isn't easy, especially in a pandemic. That's what led three women and now co-founders to create the Village, a new network supporting birthing people.

"Anyone who has had a child or works in the birthing space, like my co-founders and I, witness first hand how difficult the journey into new parenthood can be," Sarah Croce, one of the co-founders, told Patch.

Croce is a DONA certified birth doula, pre and postnatal Pilates instructor, yoga teacher and breath-work facilitator. She and her co-founders, attorney Amira Samuel and OB-GYN Christy Tabit Evans, started the organization in the pandemic to support moms in need, offering two virtual events so far for the growing community.

"A lack of support can be damaging to families, damage that can last a lifetime," Croce said. "The support The Village provides can positively affect birthing people and their children for generations."

The organization is hosting its first in-person event on Sept. 26 with giveaways, raffles and drinks. It's a chance for parents and families to connect on a stroll and help raise money for new or expecting moms. Plus, everyone who registers is automatically entered to win raffle prizes, including a massage, pilates, floral arrangement gift card, baby gear gift basket from the Pump Station in Santa Monica, a blowout and cut from Saulino Smith Salon and even a jogger stroller.

The organization has stepped in to help women facing financial challenges in the pandemic and the worst recession in U.S. history — all in a country without family leave. It's pushing families to what the U.S. Treasury Department describes as "unworkable" conditions for parents who need help, including financial aid and childcare.

"We've provided doula services for two women, childcare for one family, pelvic floor physical therapy for one woman and we paid the delinquent utility bills for one single mom with a sick child," Croce said.

They also provide funding for these services so that each mom can pay for a doula, babysitter, physical therapist and other potential health or maternity-related services.

"Just as we believe moms deserve support, we believe the workers deserve to be paid for their expertise," Croce said.

"We help birthing people pay for services that, in a perfect world, would be covered by insurance, but that's just not the way America's healthcare system is set up at this point in time," she added.

The event is just one way the organization hopes to keep supporting moms and families.

"At the end of the event, you have the chance to win some great raffle prizes, some of them geared towards moms but many of them for all populations," Croce said. "You will be entered into the raffle just by registering, fundraising, and will be able to buy extra tickets once you are there and see all the amazing items."

And although it's called a "stroller stride," the event is open to all people, she said. Some people are opting to do the stroll on bikes, rollerblades or walking. How you want to stroll is totally up to you.

"One non-mom is buying a stroller and filling it with a bunch of baby toys to push and will then donate all of it at the end of the walk," Croce said.

The Village is based in Los Angeles but provides support to families across the U.S. Media sponsors are LA Parent Magazine, The Pump Station and St. Andrews Products.

The Village's Stroller Stride starts at 9 a.m. Sept. 26 at the parking lot at 2030 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica. It ends at North Beach Park, the beach path at Montana Avenue, with refreshments provided by Pressed, Primo Passo Coffee and Paderia Bakehouse. Registration is $26 per person.

Register for the event and follow @takesavillagela for more information about the organization.

SEE MORE:

• Police Scramble To Find Larry Elder Egger
• Bruce's Beach Bill Could Return Property To Black Descendants
• Hahn Seeks Reimbursements For People Affected By Sewage Spill