Staff photo by Connor Cummiskey Mothers of Preschoolers pack bags for chemo patients and foster care children Wednesday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

NEW ULM — Moms packed bags full of clothes and goodies for locals going through a rough patch.

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), a moms’ group, packed bags for new foster kids and Chemo Care bags for New Ulm Cancer Center patients as its spring service project.

“We wanted something that we could keep local,” Service Coordinator Mackenzie Lovig said. “Something that we could include the whole community on, and we have some moms who have, in the past, been foster parents. We have some moms who have been in the foster care system themselves and it is a tough time for them (kids).”

The group packed 85 Chemo Care bags with puzzle books, hand sanitizer and more. They partnered with Heidi Hagberg who supplied the pouches.

For foster kids, the group packed 70 bags filled with blankets, water bottles, school supplies and hygiene kits.

“We also have a whole tote full of toys and games and clothes and shoes — things that can be another something special that they can choose or that their social worker can choose for them,” Lovig said.

The bags are geared toward boys or girls in four age groups: infants, toddlers, middle schoolers and teenagers.

MOPS began planning for the project last fall.

“Our goal at the time was to pack 10 bags for Brown County, for them to give to children transitioning into foster care,” Lovig said.

The group started raising money for the project by sending out letters to local businesses. They received $2,500 in contributions, exceeding the original plan.

MOPS is an international organization that partners with local churches to help women with young children realize their potential as leaders and mothers.

The local chapter meets every second and fourth Wednesday of most months. The best way to contact them is at mops.org, click on the “find a group” button under the “get started” tab.

Connor Cummiskey can be emailed at ccummiskey@nujournal.com.