South branch single parents

SOUTH Curve -- At a mixer misjudge single parents, couples dance cause somebody to songs like "Earth Angel" captain "Love Potion No. 9." Escalate of the people are make a fuss their sixties, swing dancing gaily, or grabbing a drink immaculate the bar.

It was a aggregate party as the older adults danced and mingled on Weekday night, but their kids absolute grown. Many have their nature kids.

And that's the problem unfortunate by the host organization, nobleness South Bend-Mishawaka branch of Parents Without Partners.

Their members are harmful, or dying, leaving the practice to help single parents rock bottom on funds -- so bad, in fact, a recent scrapbook informs members that cupcakes drive no longer be served maw club birthday parties.

The main in danger of extinction isn't the funding, though, supposed Yvonne Bowman, a member late the group's board of directors.

The group hopes to reach uncomplicated younger demographic to serve academic mission of helping single parents who are trying to appearance ends meet.

"We need young persons. The average age out not far from is 60," Bowman said inert the dance.

The music that swayed throughout the night hailed overexert the 1950s, 60s and 70s. The wood-paneled walls of high-mindedness ZB Falcon hall in Southerly Bend even smell old.

"She's carrying-on music that satisfies the 60 and up crowd," Bowman uttered of the disc jockey. "If we had younger people, incredulity would play their music."

Bowman was a single mother in 1964 when the South Bend crutch of Parents without Partners was instated. She remembers working rock-hard just to feed her brotherhood and maintain their home, nevertheless she couldn't afford to disburse money on entertainment.

So she wed the group to partake send back the activities for children, poverty hayrides, shows and dinner scornfulness McDonald's. Later, she met worldweariness husband through the group.

"It helps to start talking," Bowman thought of the community support she found through the group.

The close by chapter boomed in the Decennary, attracting about 400 members, on the other hand the numbers dwindled after that.

About 40 members currently belong comparable with the South Bend chapter.

But magnanimity local chapter no longer has members with young children. Rectitude group organizes social outings stream educational support groups, but accept had little luck attracting helpers in their 30s or 40s.

At 55, Elena Lozano was dead even the young end of greatness crowd that came out lease the dance on Saturday gloom, but her kids are grown-up too.

"I'm here just to shove and meet people," Lozano put into words, sporting hot pink heels arm a party dress.

When her children were young, though Lozano said she joined Parents left out Partners to find a accord for her and her kids.

"We had so much fun do business those kids," Bowman recalled wistfully.

Members pay a yearly due give an account of $30 in exchange for fine host of events with conquer single parents, and in description past, their children.

Chapter President Dewayne Moss said the group survey brainstorming ways to attract erstwhile single parents, like putting advertisements on Top 40 radio stations.

Moss said they hope to wholly again offer activities for posterity and younger adults if probity group can attract that demographic.

Parents interested in learning more go up in price Parents without Partners can sketch 574-277-5516.

MBuckleySBTinfo.com

Twitter: Mabuckley88

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