Organizers of a Moms Off Meth (MOMs) group in Le Mars and MOMs members from Cherokee spoke to area service providers Wednesday at Floyd Valley Hospital. From left: Sarah Hansen, Tina Stofferan, Mary Buhman, Melody Spengler and Becky Carey. MOMs will have its first meeting at 4 p.m. April 12 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars. [Click to enlarge]

On Jan. 28, 2004 Tina Stofferan, who was addicted to methamphetamine and marijuana, opened her door to find five policemen and two officials from the Department of Human Services.

"They were there to take my kids," the Orange City woman said. "I had been reported for illegal drug use."

For 15 heart wrenching days, she didn't know where or how her children, the youngest not even 2 months old, were.

"You sit there and you wait for the phone to ring and it never does," Stofferan said.

Stofferan, Sarah Hansen, Becky Carey and Melody Spengler -- all moms and former drug addicts -- and Mary Buhman are starting a Moms Off Meth (MOMs) support group in Le Mars.

Stofferan said she was finally able to schedule a visit with her children and seeing how much her baby had changed in just two weeks was heartbreaking.

Through outpatient and inpatient treatment she overcame her addiction and will celebrate four years of sobriety April 8.

But, she said, her battle could have been easier if she had more support.

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The goal of MOMs is to "provide a safe place for women who have either lost their children or are in danger of losing their children or just need some healthy support."

The first MOMs meeting in Le Mars will be at 4 p.m. April 12 at St John's Lutheran Church.

Buhman said all are welcome, not just moms addicted to methamphetamine but other addicts and any people with concerns.

"It affects anyone and everyone," Buhman said. "We don't turn anyone away."

About two years ago a MOMs group was started in Cherokee with four women as regular attenders. That number has doubled and others come and go, Buhman said.

Unlike other support groups, the court cannot mandate that women attend MOM's, Buhman said.

"It is a voluntary basis," she said. "We want to be there to have healthy, clean, sober fun."

Hansen, Stofferan, Carey and Spengler shared parts of their battles with drug addiction and family separation to a group of area service providers Wednesday at Floyd Valley Hospital.

Those in attendance included members of the police force, educators, health care workers and other service providers.

Hansen, of Le Mars, shared a similar story filled with heartbreak and struggle as she battled addiction and the loss of her children.

"I was very scared," she said. "My life had become very crazy and chaotic."

A MOMs group in Le Mars is needed because drug addiction is everywhere, Hansen said.

"It's very important to have here in Le Mars, to have the support," she said.

Buhman said MOMs is not treatment, but a support group where members help each other through the battle to reach sobriety and bring their children home by sharing their stories, fears and triumphs.

"If you think there's someone out there we can help, send them to us," Buhman said.

For more information about MOM's contact: Buhman at 712-540-3063 or maryb8465@hotmail.com, Stofferan at 712-395-0853 or tinas@Siouxcounty.org, and Hansen at 712-541-8129 or sachnale@yahoo.com.