Psi Beta, Estrella Mountain Community College's Psychology Honor Society, together with EMCC's Student Life Office, hosted a breakfast for 30 women and children from the New Life Center on Mother's Day.
The New Life Center in Avondale, offers shelter, safety and services to families seeking independent, violence-free lives, and EMCC student Yvette Moller wanted to do something for those women and their families on that special day. "The idea came from my husband asking me what I wanted to do for Mother's Day this year, and I just kept thinking of the women we saw at the New Life Center when we donated items to them during Women's History Month," said Moller. "I talked to our Psi Beta members and we decided, last minute, to do something for them on Mother's Day so they know we are thinking of them."
The day was a huge success. Six Psi Beta members, along with their own sisters and daughters, cooked a pancake breakfast for the families and helped children create Mother's Day cards for their moms. But, it wasn't just a breakfast. It turned into a learning opportunity for both the students and their guests. "The women were asking us about attending college, how to register, and what classes were like," said Moller. "We ended up not only creating an opportunity to help these women change their lives, but to also learn for ourselves and our own children how important it is to be involved in your community and to give back. I think we really made a difference."
Moller will serve as Psi Beta's president during the 2009-2010 school year and is looking forward to repeating this event next year. "It really exceeded our expectations," she said. "It felt so good to see the smiles on their faces and know that we were doing something good for the community."