Many Mothers

A Soft Place to Land: How Many Mothers Is Building a Community of Care for New Families.

For over three decades, this New Mexico organization has provided the essential support every perinatal family deserves, from diapers to deep human connection.

The arrival of a new baby is often portrayed as a time of pure joy. But for many caregivers, it can also be a period of exhaustion, isolation, and overwhelming pressure. It was this gap between expectation and reality that inspired Anne McCormick to found Many Mothers more than thirty years ago.

Believing that every parent of a newborn deserves support, McCormick developed “Muchas Mamas,” a volunteer-based program that provided free, hands-on help to families. It was likely the first iteration of postpartum doula care and free home visiting in New Mexico.

“She observed that new mothers were often exhausted, overwhelmed, felt isolated from the community,” a representative from Many Mothers explains. “She believed that new babies thrive on love, care, and attention, and so do new mothers.”

Today, Many Mothers has expanded to serve all infant caregivers—including fathers and grandparents—and addresses the financial pressures of welcoming a new baby. Its Family Center is the only rapid-response community center in New Mexico providing holistic resources for perinatal families.

Meeting Needs, Transforming Lives

The support offered is both practical and profound, ranging from maternal home visiting and mental health support to tangible material aid. The impact is a wide spectrum, from providing a crib and formula for a family robbed of all their infant supplies to helping a mother in a domestic violence situation repair her car to reach a safe house.

“For lower-income mothers and their families, diapers are the fourth highest expense, behind rent, food, and utilities,” the organization notes. By providing these essentials, Many Mothers offers a crucial cost-savings opportunity so families do not fall into poverty during the vulnerable perinatal period.

Cultural Humility and Crisis Response

Serving a diverse community in Northern New Mexico requires intentionality. The organization prioritizes cultural sensitivity and inclusivity through rigorous volunteer training centered on “cultural humility.” A bilingual program coordinator helps ensure all families feel understood and supported.

The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the critical role of tangible aid. Shifting to drive-through pickups for essentials, the organization distributed over 1 million basic needs items.

“The crisis highlighted how, when basic needs like nutrition and infant care supplies are met, families can focus their emotional energy on other aspects of their well-being rather than stressing over survival,” the team shares. This experience fundamentally expanded their understanding of their community role.

The Power of Connection

At its heart, Many Mothers is about relationship. Volunteers, who are often motivated by their own experiences with postpartum isolation, form deep bonds with families.

“For caregivers, the opportunity for someone to come into their home and life with care, compassion, and a non-judgmental approach can be such a soft spot for them to land,” the organization says. For volunteers, it fulfills an innate desire to care for others, whether by snuggling a baby or offering encouragement.

A Vision for a Supported Future

With programs expanding to Albuquerque and a framework for national replication, the ultimate hope for Many Mothers is simple: that no caregiver feels alone.

“The truth is, while some perinatal experiences are specific to New Mexico, the community of care needed around pregnancy and childbirth is universal,” they affirm.

The model proves that grassroots efforts are feasible. “All you need is compassion, dedication, and a couple of helping hands to get started.” As similar organizations flourish in other states, Many Mothers stands as a testament to the power of community, ensuring that every family has the support they need to not just survive, but thrive.

To learn more about their work, visit Many Mothers.