BY MATT HERSH

When Heather Medeiros moved to Salem from Reading, Mass., she and her two young children didn’t know anyone in the community.

But after she found out about Success By 6, a morning play group for children under the age of 6 and their parents, she quickly felt at home.

Now, the organization, which is known as Salem Family Resources, has received a $5,000 grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to help its successful programs continue. And Medeiros has become an active member.

The groups meet every day at the Triumphant Cross Lutheran Church, where children and their mothers get together to play games and socialize.

On Monday, Jan. 22, a group of about 10 children and five mothers spent some time making Play-Doh animals and rubbing shaving cream all over a table.

The kids giggled as dollops of shaving cream landed on their clothes while the parents looked on with smiles.

Since each parent and child is assigned to a specific group they attend every week, the members all know each other and look forward to their time together.

In a town with no public kindergarten, the program fills the important role of building connections with other children in the community before they begin school.

“It was a great way for my kids to meet other kids and great for me to meet other mothers,” Medeiros said. 

The organization was formed in 1997 by its director, Cindy Jury and has grown since.

In 2004, the program’s board of directors was reorganized to include some prominent residents of Salem, including Town Manager Henry LaBranche and Superintendent Michael Delahanty.

“I believe (the program) has helped a great deal of families,” Delahanty said.  “It prepares the kids for school.”

Rather than just being a place for parents to bring their kids for recreation, the play groups are also a way to connect to community resources, according to board member Laurel Redden.

Each group is run by a facilitator who can provide access to a variety of other programs including health care, financial support, and special education aid.

Redden said the program also offers diversity because parents from all different walks of life meet and form a common bond.

“I’ve seen long-term friendships develop out of it,” she said.  “It’s a good stress reliever and community builder.”

Aside from the play groups, the organization also hosts a handful of other programs, including parenting workshops, story hours at Barnes and Noble, and a women’s health fair.

With the $5,000 grant helping to cover their operating costs, Redden said the organization is looking to continue its work and find new ways to bring children and parents together.

For more information, contact Salem Family Resources at 898-5493.