PARKERSBURG - A record number of local members of the Mothers of Preschoolers group will be attending the international organization's annual convention this year.

"Twenty-six of our members will be going to the MOPS Convention in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 24-26. Around 5,000-6,000 from all over are expected to attend," said Summer Webb-Sundstrum with the local MOPS group.

The No Mom Alone movement will be launched at the annual convention. MOPS International is focused on reaching every mom so they don't feel isolated or alone. The organization strives to find community, friendship and support in local MOPS groups across the nation and around the world. Some of the projects to be addressed at convention include a New Mom Gift Project where participants will write encouraging notes to new mothers and help raise money for new mom gift packages. The New Mom Gift Project offers a tangible way to welcome moms into the community of mothering, providing resources to promote community and prevent isolation, MOPS spokeswomen said.

MOPS International serves more than 100,000 mothers of preschoolers in more than 4,000 groups across the U.S. and 32 countries.

Tiffany Deem of Parkersburg has three children and will be attending her third MOPS convention.

"It's given me a strong foundation to build on. It helped strengthen my relationships with other moms, which fosters a deeper support system. It helps moms be better mothers," Deem said.

"The local group meets twice monthly. Information is provided on a variety of issues, like nursing, marriage, discipline. We have guest speakers or a video from the international organization at our meetings. We do a craft and smaller group discussions," Deem said. Volunteers provide child care during the meetings. There are other activities like play sessions with the children and date night out for husbands and wives, she noted.

"It's nice to have a few minutes for yourself and be able to connect with other mothers," Deem said.

Mentors are available to help answer questions or provide support.

"It helps you connect with other moms, make friends; it's really a good support system," she said.

Wendy Merrifield of Davisville has been in MOPS four years. She has two children. She is also among the 26 local club members who will be attending the convention. She attended last year as well.

"The conventions are really an overwhelming experience; it's difficult to describe," Merrifield said. She noted one of the reasons she became involved with the group was her hope to find a niche, where she could be of help to other women in the community.

"Our local group, with the mentor moms, with outreach, we also have monthly meetings if there is a problem or a specific issue going on in our lives that we might need help with, or support from other moms," Merrifield said. "We build a network of support groups for the moms, so they have friends to call. I think we need to know we don't have to be super moms, we need to be ourselves and let others help us."

Mentor Mom Christa Raitz was one of the original founders of the local organization in 2001.

"A handful of moms heard about MOPS and decided we needed a group here. The Emmanual Baptist Church supported us, they are our chartering ministry. Most of the moms are stay-at-home moms and that can be very isolating. This is a place to come and stay connected, develop relationships, find support for others at the same stage of life who are experiencing some of the same difficulties and struggles," she said. "It was also important to me to have a place where I could help others."

"We first went to convention in 2002. There was just myself and one other mom. The convention was a life-changing experience for me. I had felt very alone as a mom, and it was incredible to be there with thousands of other moms," Raitz said.

For more information on the local MOPS group, call 304-295-5767 or 304-834-3253.