Mar 30, 2018 3 min read

When Lisa Lyons, director of Outreach Ministries for Christian Center Church, heard a radio ad announcing a day of pampering for single mothers, she was intrigued. When, just a short time later, she heard from several single mothers about their struggles, she knew she had to act.

“The very next month, we had a women’s conference at church. A bunch of ladies gave testimonies about being single moms and how their life has changed,” she said. “When I walked out that day, I thought, ‘OK, God, I get it. You want me to bring this program to the Mon Valley.”

Christian Center Church of Rostraver Township hosted the first Single Mom Conference Feb. 4, 2017. About 85 single mothers were treated to massages, makeovers and more while their 125 children were cared for nearby.

“The committee decided what we wanted the day to look like. We knew it needed to be day pampering where there would be babysitting for children. The moms could relax because their kids were there, and they didn’t have to stress about finding babysitting,” Lyons said.

This year, the event, “I am Loved: Every Day is a Blank Slate, A Single Mom Day of Pampering,” will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 5. Single moms who register will be treated to free beauty services, lunch, dessert bar and a chance to win a gift basket.

“Our theme is, ‘Know you are loved just because you exist. People love you enough that they want to be there to support you.’ This is our way of saying, ‘Thank you for being you,'” Lyons said. “Last year, the women loved it. They were overwhelmed that we didn’t know them and we opened the church to them, and it didn’t cost them anything.”

As many as 100 volunteers make the event possible, including men from the church who will serve lunch. The meal is prepared by caterers and served in the sanctuary, which is turned into a banquet hall.

“We pull out all the stops to make it the best we can for them,” said Lyons.

After they register, guests will receive a call from a volunteer, asking for which services they’d like to register. Pampering stations include nail painting, hair cuts and styling, massages and makeup application.

Guests can also paint on canvas, visit mentoring stations and get advice on home maintenance. They can relax with cafe drinks and talk with friends. Volunteers will clean the inside of their vehicles and check tire pressure and fluid levels.

Honorees have a chance to win one of 32 gift baskets and every participant will take home a bag of goods.

While the ladies relax, their children will be fed and participate in art projects and games.

Support won’t end for the single moms that day, though. The church is organizing a “single and parenting” class that will start this spring. The class will be open to any single parent.

“We knew we needed to give them more. They need to know a support system is behind them,” said Lyons. “The Mon Valley needs this. Single moms need this.”

Registration for the Single Mom Conference is required, and closes April 26. The event is open to the first 115 single mothers who register and their children. To register or for more information, visit https://christiancenter.us/ or call 724-929-9290.