An Outdoor Space Creates New Opportunities for Cortez Mothers

Last year, mothers and women’s health advocates successfully fought to keep Cortez’s local birthing center open. Their efforts to safeguard maternal health care at Southwest Memorial Hospital received media attention and raised further awareness about the relative lack of support for many mothers in rural Southwest Colorado. That includes few opportunities for mothers to meet one another and build important bonds. Cortez’s Church of the Nazarene started a twice-monthly program to give moms a chance to socialize while their children receive supervised care. It has been a resounding success, but the church’s pastor wanted to expand and improve the program. She contacted LOR with a new idea: create a public outdoor space where mothers and children can gather to socialize and learn from each other. LOR’s funding will help the church buy a wooden playset, fencing, crafts, snacks, and other supplies. It will also cover two child care providers to help supervise children. When constructed, the outdoor space will not only serve Cortez mothers but also other local groups like the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.