For those of us whose mother has departed, Mother’s Day is an extremely difficult day. When you see the card, gift, and flower displays in stores, it’s a sad reminder that your mom is no longer here. So this year honor your mother by helping other mothers, families and individuals.

And, of course, if your mother is still with you, find the perfect gift for the mother who doesn’t need a thing, make her proud by sending her a gift basket where 100 percent of the proceeds go toward helping others.

And for young mothers just beginning to raise their children, a gift shows them they are supported in their motherhood journey and allows them to feel they are helping others, too.

This great opportunity is brought to you by New London Counseling Center (NLC). The center is a non-profit organization that provides individual, couples, family, and group counseling to the southern Chester County community.

Dr. Katie Bowman, the executive director, of the center, is very excited about this fundraiser. Since they are a non-profit, fundraising is vital so they can carry out their mission.

Every basket sold pays for one person or family to start treatment at New London Counseling Center, and 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to therapy scholarships for people in the community who are unable to pay for services. Some clients pay as little as $10 per hour-long session with a licensed mental health professional. Approximately half of the clients receive a scholarship to pay for their mental health care. 

NLC has an amazing team of nine clinicians with expertise in a variety of areas so they are able to treat just about everyone from age 5 and up. They offer individual, marriage, family, and group therapy.

The mission at NLC is to meet people where they are, so they do lots of workshops and presentations for a variety of civic, religious and community groups---free of charge. 

The gift baskets are $75 and can be purchased at https://www.newlondoncounselingcenter.com.

People can also donate baskets to young moms with significant life challenges. By donating a gift basket to a young mom in need, you are also paying for the cost of therapy for a local family or individual! 

Here's what the gift baskets include:

~ Breakfast in bed, which includes freshly baked scones from Sweet Magnolia Bakery in Landenberg, a fruit cup, and a tea bag;

~ Chocolates;

~ Flowers (4.5-inch potted flowers);

~ Spa essentials, such as Arbonne face wash, face mask, face serum, and moisturizer, detox teas and fizz sticks;

~ Expert strategies for unwinding and taking care of yourself (videos by the resident therapists along with aromatherapy candles or essential oils).

If you want to make this Mother’s Day extra special and double the love, you can purchase an extra gift basket, which will be given to a young mom (under 21) who is facing huge life challenges and could use a little encouragement.

Baskets will be available for pick-up on May 8 from 9 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Christian Life Center, 125 Saginaw Road, Lincoln University, PA 19352.

If you have  questions, you can send an email to [email protected].

You can also support the center by making a donation in any amount. NLC has already raised $1,522 toward their goal of $5,000.

NLC began in 2019, when members of the Christian Life Center in Lincoln University recognized a need for mental health services in Southern Chester County and wanted to make counseling available to the entire community regardless of their ability to pay.

Pastor Joshua Roberts from Christian Life Center invited Dr. Katie Bowman to join this endeavor, and the New London Counseling Center was born. The Christian Life Center has been, and will continue to be, a generous donor toward this new organization and an important community partner. 

The New London Counseling Center operates out of a grand home with a rich history, built in the 1850s and is nestled in historic New London Village. The quiet solitude and beauty offered by this home and land is evident as soon as you pull into the driveway. The property boasts a working farm over eight sprawling acres. It houses a barn, silo and airplane hangar that once operated as the New London Airport for several decades. Today, the former landing strip has been returned to farm land. 

Bowman said, “We have nine therapists and see 100 people at any given time. We don’t turn anyone away.”

To make an appointment, call 484-746-3112.

NLC plans a future event, the first annual Denim and Diamonds fundraiser on Sept. 25 from 5 to 9 p.m. at 85 Lewisville Road, Lincoln University. It will be an outdoor evening of dinner and dancing with live music under the stars.

NLC works in the southern Chester County Community. They are currently working with the Garage Youth Center, an after-school and youth development program serving middle and high school students in West Grove and Kennett Square.

Bowman cares deeply about the youth and has been working with them for months.

“We have been helping them with a variety of mental issues,” she said. “During the pandemic, mental health issues have escalated, especially for 13- to 19-year-olds, and 75 percent of mental health issues start in adolescence, so it is very important to intervene at that time. Four out of 10 adolescents are struggling with anxiety and depression. During the pandemic, it has become much more serious.”

Bowman continued, “We have been flooded with clients. We are up over 50 percent from where we were last year. One of our therapists goes to Jenner’s Pond to help health care workers. There is a real sense of urgency to succeed. We desperately need to see people, and we really need volunteers.”

Bowman added, “Fundraisers are very important to us since 50 percent of our clients are on a scholarship and are paying less than what it costs to deliver service. And we won’t say no to anyone who needs help.”

To make an appointment with the New London Counseling Center, call 484-746-3112.