I have been in Fristers for almost 6 years now! I am absolutely and entirely thankful for everything they have done for my son and I. I can not describe in words the impact and difference that every one of them has made in our lives. Years later and we have our own apartment, stable jobs with good income and so much opportunity to grow! They always push us to do our best and then some.
I found out about Fristers through a friend when I was 18 and 7 months pregnant. Despite being surrounded by a loving family, I still felt alone. I was terrified about the future of my baby because I had no idea how to be a mother. I lacked confidence in myself and at one point I truly believed that my son would be better off without me. I would never be enough for him.
Fast forward 5 years later...
I still attend Fristers every week. Fristers opened many doors for me over the years. I began volunteering with Teen Voices Teen Choices through Fristers, which eventually led to part-time employment. Fristers provided me with an internship, which allowed me to graduate with my BA from CSULB. Most recently, Ali provided a phenomenal reference, which led to landing my first full-time job.
Today, I view myself as a strong, independent woman. More importantly, I view myself as a wonderful mother. I am not perfect. The beauty of that is I don't have to be because I AM ENOUGH. Fristers has given me the love and support that I desperately needed. The friendships and memories that I've made over the years are priceless. I am so grateful for Fristers and everyone involved. I have much more confidence in myself, and my son and I couldn't be happier together.
It takes a village to raise a child and Fristers takes the role perfectly.
Great group of folks. Imapcting young women's lives with actual tools they can use. Caring, compasionate and real. Real people with real love and tools...
I love this program its great they helped me become a better mom and a better person im so glad i heard about this program i would recommend this to every mom out there i love you FRISTERS and all the help you give us best experience ever !!!!!
I absolutely love fristers, it is a wonderful resource for young moms where we can learn to better ourselves. They help us set up goals and check on our progress making us feel they truly care.
I love FRISTERS!!! They have been apart of my life for the last 5 years and because of it I am a better person but most importantly a better Mom. My kids love going every week. They love their teachers and the activities that they get to do. With out this program I wouldn't have learned the dicipline it takes to be a young mother. Thank you Fristers for everything!! ❤
After being a part of this wonderful program I can say that it's because of Fristers that I am the kind of parent I'm proud of today. I value myself as a woman and I have a strong bond with my son. I never feel like I'm alone with Fristers by me!
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I have gone to Fristers for a year now and I love it there! I always look forward to it an so does my son. The volunteers in the Kidsters centers are always so kind and loving with my son and all the children. They have shown me kindness, compassion, hope, and so much more! They have helped me value myself as a woman and a mother. Gave me back the will to give my life to god and in the process made my marriage better. I love the life skill classes and the parenting classes as well!
I have been going to Fristers since 2010 and I'm grateful for this organization because without them I wouldn't have known what path to take as a young mom and also I wouldnt feel lonely they would receive you with lots of love and hugs and that is what makes you feel welcomed . Also made me build a stronger relationship with my baby daddy , my parents and it made me understand more about life and God . Fristers is awesome !!!!
I honestly loved Fristers. Not only did they care for and helped with my parenting, but with loving myself. They thought self worth and the love that Jesus Christ offers. I wish there were more nonprofits like this! Thank you so much fristers!!!
A wonderful program that provides love and guidance. This program can change the future for those who utilize it and send them off in life prepared and informed!
There's so many great things to say about Fristers, where to start is the real question!?
This program changed my outlook on life! I was in a pretty scary, dark, lonely place at 19 years old with minimal support and a premature daughter. This group of amazingly talented women gave me the courage to fight myself out of my dark hole. I was uplifted by the stories these fellow mothers have gone through. I've seen mothers in their early teens to young 20s, spreading the word that it IS OKAY to be a young mom. We all go through struggles and we all go through milestones. The best part was knowing that you had the support of your fellow friends and sisters every week, rain or shine. This was the best resource and tool for me as a young, clueless mom. I was able to fix up my resume, work on my communication skills, learn some great parenting tips and create some beautiful friendships!
Ali, and the rest of the impeccable administration has led young women from all different backgrounds to believe in the most important thing, themselves. Meeting on a weekly basis for dinner, scrap booking, and group discussions was the best thing to ever happen to me. It was like free therapy and a chance to make friendships with other amazing young mothers, all while our children were receiving the absolute BEST care anyone could ask for. I'm incredibly grateful to my friend Erika, for pushing me to get the support I needed and make friends with some beautiful human beings. Fristers is the talk of the town for us young moms & I absolutely LOVE seeing all my friends posting about Fristers nights and how they get together to enjoy the company! Sometimes we catch ourselves more excited than the kids, and that's what I adore about these girls!
During my time in Orange County, I enjoyed my weekly trips to the Irvine & Santa Ana locations. I eventually got a job offer to relocate to Las Vegas, Nevada to pursue my career in the automotive industry. I was very fortunate to be able to manage to come as much as possible, when my schedule allowed. Driving 4 hours to be with some of the best women I've ever encountered, was always something to look forward to!
Fristers has helped me grow independent! I am able to provide financially and emotionally for my family, when if I hadn't met these girls, life would have been a constant struggle. These girls have taught me incredible skills with budgeting, different resources to help young moms and many other ways I will forever be grateful for.
I'm incredibly thankful for the amazing women Fristers has brought into my life, and will always look back and smile! I've got nothing but mad love and respect for my girls, MY FRISTERS!
I chose to volunteer with Fristers because of what they stand for. I worked with the children and was amazed at the effort the staff put in to help create a fun and safe learning environment for the children.
I enjoyed seeing the relief on the monthers' faces when they saw their children laughing and learning. I no longer volunteer here, but if time allowed it, I would in a heart beat!
I been in Fristers for 3 years already with my 2 girls and we love it so much it has given me some lessons of life and how to teach my girls new stuff and for me ass well to be a better mom friend girlfriend wife etc.. am
I love fristers sooo much!!!!. Fristers is the best place where a young mom can start her journey by learning how to be a mom, meeting new friends, getting support, resources and help.
Best place ever, great enviroment and perfect friendly staff ..
Xoxo
Fristers has been a big help in my life. My life changed when I got pregnate back in 2011 and Fristers was with me every step of the way. Even when I could not understand why things happen the way they do. They help me understand and guide me that. The lord is always with me and in my life. Thank your Fristers!
Fristers has changed my life so much that writing about it doesn't do justice. I've been coming here for 4 years and I am Not a perfect mother but I am a great one. And this Organization helped mold me this way. I had my son at 17 and I didn't even know what I was doing with my life. Now I'm 22 and I have a stable job. I have a new car and a place to call homefor myself and my children because of goals they helped me set . I used to me a Emotical Wreck. At one point suicide was on my mind daily. And I'm proud to say I'm still here today. I know I'm worth a lot and I have faith life will work out perfectly for me because of the help I received here my mentality is amazing.
I'm also back in school and focusing on myself and future. A school Fristers helped me find that fit my lifestyle !
This program is Just amazing ❤️
Fristers ❤i started going on 2010 when my first daughter was born fristers is amazing .they support u so much they were always there for me holding my hand through the right path of life they showed me that im worth it ..they showed me how to become a better mom and women. Im a fristers graduate every tuesday i was there i miss fristers so much its part of my life .i had a chance to meet amazing people volunteer table leaders guest speakers and moms just like me with different or same situation as me ...
This organization saved my daughter. When she got pregnant at 14, she thought her life was over. Fristers brought the spirit back to her. She set goals and has met them. She finished high school and went on to college. Not only did she receive benefit from this organization, but she was inspired and became a member of this wonderful organization. She works very hard for the organization to try and bring the message to young mothers everywhere she goes. She is never without business cards and if she sees a young mom, she is right there to tell the Fristers story. A wonderful organization that saved my daughter.
Fristers has changed my life in all the best ways! I was fifteen when I had my daughter, and had no clue what I was doing with my life personally, or as a mom. I joined Fristers when my daughter was about 9 years old, and as soon as I walked in they helped me to feel important, and loved. They have always supported me, and I have never once heard an "I told you so" even after making huge mistakes. Fristers helped me to know that I can still have a successful life despite having my daughter at a young age. They encouraged me to finish school, and get my drivers license. They gave me tools and resources to obtain child care, health insurance, and child support. They even provided references so I could get my first job.
The staff and volunteers are so loving, and would do anything to support a young mother. This is my fourth year attending, and I have loved every second. There is still so much to learn, fun to be had, and new friendships to be made. I don't know where I would be without Fristers, but I know my life, and my daughter's would not be as happy or successful without them.
I became involved in Frister's about 3 years ago after I began attending Mariner's Church in 2009. I was a teen mom and I felt my experience would help others understand things that took me years to figure out on my own. I enjoy spending time with the girls and encouraging them to be the best they can be and really help them focus on their future and not dwell on their past. It's amazing to see the progress some of these girls make and really change their trajectory in life. Frister's gives these girls hope and guidance to help them become women God intended them to be.
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I was an unwed mother at the age of 17 when I gave birth to my daughter. I felt very ashamed, judged and shunned by my church which, was very conservative. I didn't understand then why I made some of the choices I made that impacted my life immensely until years later. I wanted to help girls like me not feel so alone. I wanted to be apart of something that would encourage, nurture and empower a young mom to be more than a statistic. To love her and know life is not over and she does have a chance to live a life of grace, truth and beauty. I wish I had FRISTER'S when I was in that situation.
The time, care, thought, effort, and love that the Fristers team devotes to their program is remarkable. Their efforts are positively changing the lives of this and the next generation and I am blessed to have the opportunity serve and call myself a part of the team.
Fristers which translates to Friends & Sisters! I have been involved with this amazing organization since its inception and have watched the transformation of the young single mothers and their children who have joined our program. They are loved from the moment they walk through our doors, given hope, understanding, love, and the tools to succeed. This program has and will continue to change lives!!! If you now of young teen mom who is in need of support, this is the only program of its kind!
Fristers is absolutely amazing! As a volunteer, I see first hand how Fristers is improving the lives of each mom and child that comes through the door. They are committed to helping each individual with any problem they might face, by providing resources and endless amounts of social support and acceptance. They truly care about these moms and kids.
Fristers is changing lives! I've seen it in the girls who come back week after week, year after year. They are confident, outgoing, better mothers, and more independent. As a childcare volunteer for the past 5 years, I've also witnessed change in their children. The kids who were once shy, misbehaved, or scared to leave their mothers have morphed into kids who can't wait to play with their friends, who say a prayer and sit nicely at dinner, and who are excited to learn numbers and colors and letters! Fristers has changed me, too, encouraging me to be more patient, kind, and understanding of other people. I love being a part of this organization and I look forward to it each week!
There aren't enough wonderful words that can describe Fristers. I've been volunteering for 5 years now and just can't get enough of the love that is so evident each time I'm surrounded by fellow Fristers. God is at work in this ministry and it's a beautiful thing to watch the lives of these young moms and children being transformed from the inside out.
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Fristers is one of the most amazing ministries I've ever come across. What Fristers provides for teen moms is life changing and I feel so blessed to be a part of it. I've seen first hand changes taking place in the lives of the young moms we serve each week. I've seen girls come to know the Lord and find hope in their future because of it. I see the girls faces light up each week as they enter the room and enjoy an evening free of their responsibilities as a mom and just enjoy time with others and bettering themselves as young adults and moms. I love every moment of my time with my Fristers!
I have been a volunteer and supporter of Fristers since it began. I wanted to serve at my church. I love being a mom and my children were grown so Fristers seemed like a good fit for me. I showed up 7 years ago (actually when I started, we were called Club Mom) and have been coming every Wednesday night since. There are so many things I love about Fristers but the best part is seeing the girls walk into the room and know that they are in a safe place where they will get a hug, a smile, a good meal, a laugh, encouragement and all the resources they need to move forward. It is really powerful to see life change and it is happening with these girls. I've seen it because I've been there for so long and it is thrilling.
If I had to sum up Fristers in one word I would say it is empowering! So much love and care goes into every detail for these teen mothers. On any given night across six different locations volunteers and professionals come together to set up the meeting room, provide transportation, serve a warm meal, and of course provide resources to these young women so that they can be better students, mothers, and employees all at once. This program is run and staffed and interned by those that care. The young women who come every week to learn and grow want to be the best mothers they can be. I am so grateful to get to be apart of a program that provides such love and support.
Fristers is a safe, supportive, and challenging club for teen moms. It's amazing to see the young girls come in, with so many struggles, then watch them conquer them one at a time, until they have grown into beautiful, self-sufficient women.
Being able to be a part of Fristers, has been the best thing I have done with my life other than my Family.
Fristers, stands for Friends and Sisters. Fristers helps empower women, ages 13-24 who are pregant or have children, to become the best person and mother they can be.
From the first moment I saw Fristers in action I knew this is where I want to be! These young Ladies are brave, inspiring, eager to learn and each Beautiful from the inside out!
They come evey week to learn and have community with each other and The volunteers!
I am blessed to be a part of each of their lives and watch them grow into the women that God made them to be!
Thank you Fristers!
Fristers is a great resource and support system for young mims servicing all if Orange County. I has been helping out at Fristers for 4 years now and I'm impressed every week with the growth the moms make and help they receive. It is a great organization to be part of.
At age 27, married with a 23-month toddler and a 9-month baby, I got pregnant and chose to abort. The next two weeks, all I did was cry ( I now realize I was mourning.). A decade later, a thunderbolt realization hit me between the eyes: this abortion was the choice I have regretted the very most in my life! Then, 15 years after my realization, I heard during a Sunday service at Mariners that Ali was going to speak about "Club 139." I went and haven't turned back. Club 139, Club Mom and now Fristers has been a way for me to serve and support moms who made the good choice in life.
I have been a "snack mom" for this group for nearly 11 years when it began at Mariners Church under the name "Club Mom." It has been an amazing group providing love, support, and guidance to young single moms throughout Orange County. The group empowers young moms be the best that they can be for themselves and their children. This community of friends and sisters will surely have a positive effect on the next generation!
