27 JUNE 2023 By Jennifer Marshall In early 2023, Arcadia moms Avery Olmsted and Angeles Klein founded the Better Together Single Moms Group. The inspiration was to provide single mothers the same opportunities and experiences as traditional households through meetings and fellowship. “As single moms ourselves,” Klein said, “we know and understand their struggles. When you add on being single to being a mother, the responsibility doubles because there is no longer someone there to be your partner and share all of your day-to-day business.” Currently, the group has about 103 members, and they enjoy meeting every month for socialization, fun, support and conversation. “Better Together offers moms a sense of community, a circle of support, many opportunities to make connections, offers guidance through shared experiences (including available resources) and helps one another thrive by promoting businesses and professional endeavors,” Klein said. Each event varies from month to month, is family-friendly and sometimes donation-based. Some of their activities thus far include meet and greets at Little O’s and Lou’s Bar and Grill at Papago, a park day, birthday celebrations and outdoor yoga. For Mother’s Day, the group held a family picnic and photoshoot at McCormick- Stillman Railroad Park. “We seek to encourage growth by building confidence in one another and to remind all single moms that we are not alone,” Klein said. “Avery and I both feel a special connection to all of the moms we have met, and the support they’ve given us has changed our lives by knowing there is someone who understands.” She said that one of her most heartfelt experiences was when three mothers, who did not have family in town, met through one of the events and spent Easter together with their little ones. Looking toward the summer, the group has various events planned: a “Moms Brunch: Running a Small Business as a Single Mother” on June 4 at Olive and Ivy; “Beginner Jiu Jitsu for Women’s Self Defense” on June 17 at the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Social Club and a “Private Aerial Yoga Party” on July 8. “I believe that happy, healthy moms raise happy, healthy children,” Olmsted said. “By changing a single mother’s life for the better, we can help change a child’s life for the better as well.” meetup.com/bettertogether Arcadia-based group supports single moms Angeles Klein Avery Olmsted SCOTTSDALE FASHION SQUARE 6828 E. CAMELBACK RD. SCOTTSDALE AZ 85251 602-834-2700 Woodbridge Interiors, formerly Thomasville & More is Arizona’s destination for quality fine home furnishings, featuring a wide variety of trusted national brand names including Tommy Bahama Home, Stickley, Lexington, Century, Hooker Furniture, Bernhardt, Natuzzi, American Leather & many more. ask about our complimentary in-home design | Mon-Sat 10-5 Sun 11-5 | woodbridgeinteriors.com hurry in during our summer sale!