The Moms Next Door May Dispatch
- Share Your Story: Help leaders understand the impact of rising costs by sharing how child care, health care, and grocery prices affect your family.
- National Day Without Child Care: Join parents and providers on May 11th to demand universal Child care.
- Mother's Day Mutual Aid: Organize a Mother’s Day supply drive to help families bridge the "summer hunger gap" as school meal programs pause.
Happy Mother’s Day — Welcome to the May Dispatch! Thank you for being a part of our growing, powerful Moms Next Door program. Each month, you’ll receive this toolkit to provide you and your community with ideas on how to self-organize, take action, find joy in community, and recharge as we build a brighter future! Want to receive these Dispatches directly in your inbox! Sign up here!
Here’s the May Menu of 5 ways for you to engage this month, on your own — or with your small group near you:
May Organizing Zoom Meetup
Join us on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 7:30-8:30 PM ET on Zoom for Moms Next Door Session #5, featuring Living Room Conversations! Stay on Zoom after the session for a special debrief with Moms Next Door organizers.
Sign up for the May Zoom Meetup here.
Action of the Month: Share Your Story!
Personal experiences are powerful and can make a HUGE difference in helping elected leaders understand why lowering costs is so important. As Mother’s Day approaches, what moms most want is to be able to support our families and pay our bills.
Gas prices are high, health care premiums are skyrocketing, and child care and housing are constantly competing for a share of the paycheck. At kitchen tables across the nation, families are making very difficult budget decisions — the math isn't mathing!
How are increased grocery, health care, child care, gas, and other costs impacting you? Tell us about it, and we'll share your experience directly with leaders.
Submit your story to MomsRising here.
Fun, Joy & Power
Participate in the National Day Without Child Care
The cost of child care now exceeds the price of public college in most states. On May 11th, providers and parents are going on strike for universal child care. Whether you can participate all day or just a portion, you can join actions like gathering at local centers to raise awareness or joining a street corner picket.
Take the pledge to join the movement.
Watch the “Moms Pay the Price” Hearing
MomsRising members recently testified at the first-ever mom-centered Congressional hearing on affordability. They shared powerful personal stories and brought "receipts" — from $6,000+ out-of-pocket medical bills to child care costs that rival a second mortgage.
Watch the full Congressional hearing here.
Moms Night Out
Learn about the Moms Night Out initiative from Vote Mama, an easy way to help parents build their community and their political power simultaneously.
Find out more about Moms Night Out.
What We’re Reading This Month
Looking for a book group pick? Here is what is in our May library:
- Collective Learning Pick: Unrig the Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone About Winning by Vanessa Priya Daniel.
- Escapist Pick: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke.
Spring Books for the Kiddos:
- Springtime in Kitkatla by Kim Spencer (Ages 3-5)
- Spring’s Miracles by Kaitlin B. Curtice (Ages 3-7)
- Planting Hope by Frederick Joseph (Ages 4-8)
Mutual Support Activity: Host a Mother’s Day Supply Drive
Mutual aid is community-driven and reciprocal, built on solidarity. While many food drives happen in winter, food banks often face a "summer hunger gap" when families lose access to school-provided breakfast and lunch programs.
This Mother’s Day, organize a simple food, clothing, or supply drive for items like diapers, wipes, and shelf-stable snacks. It can be as easy as a collection box on your stoop or in your office.
Bonus Resource: Pride Month Preparation
Pride month is around the corner! Check out these resources for LGBTQ+ parenting, allyship, and advocacy:
This May 2026 Moms Next Door Dispatch from MomsRising provides resources for community organizing, Mother's Day mutual aid, and advocacy for affordable child care and health care.
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