Mineola resident Katie Briggs might be only 24 years old, and the mother of two young children – a 3-year-old and an 8-month-old – but that hasn’t stopped her from starting a rapidly growing charity to help other moms like herself.

Briggs started giving away diapers, wipes, meal bags, clothes from preemie to adult, etc. to other “Moms In Need” (the name of her group) about a year ago. She thought it would be a nice way to help moms who were in a spot she had once been in herself.

“I was a mom, at some point, in need, and it hurt my heart to have to ask for help,” said Briggs. “So I know – I know – firsthand how it can be.”

However, the number of people Briggs is reaching isn’t exactly what she expected at first. According to  her, between November and January, she’s been able to help more than 800 moms.

“It’s blown me out of the water, (the way this has grown),” she said. “It’s people starting over, getting out of relationships that they don’t need to be in, foster parents, grandparents that have taken babies in, just single moms; (we’re) kind of helping everybody.”

The organization has expanded enough that Briggs is now working toward official nonprofit status. She said there are no requirements to receive help – “anybody and everybody” is welcome to get what they need.

“If you need help, I can help,” said Briggs. “No questions. No paperwork. I don’t need to know your address, I don’t need your phone number, I don’t need any of it.”

While Briggs runs the organization independently, community support has definitely followed the endeavor. Donations continue to arrive, and local businesses have stepped in to help with fundraising. An upcoming raffle and giveaway has already received nearly 60 donated gift cards and certificates from businesses in Wood, Smith and Rains counties.

Balancing motherhood and volunteer work is a lot, but Briggs is fine with that. It’s what she does.

“It keeps me busy for sure,” she said.

Briggs wasn’t kidding; she had to interrupt the offhand comment to do some mothering. 

More information about Moms in Need is available on the group’s Facebook page.