Jacksonville Review – Dec 2023/Jan 2024
In 2015, Jacksonville resident Linda Otto founded a nonprofit to support new mothers who had no extended family members living nearby. Since then, the Grandmas2Go Family Coaches program has served hundreds of families in Southern Oregon with loving care from a volunteer grandma! By connecting the generations, this program has helped new moms when they are most overwhelmed and has given senior women a fulfilling way to stay active, involved and giving back to their communities.
In early 2020, the Grandmas2Go program merged with the Family Nurturing Center, a plan that Linda had been working on for several years. She is thrilled to know that her “passion project,” the Grandmas2Go Family Coaches program, will continue to support struggling families in Southern Oregon. And she is honored to know that many of these “families of choice” have bonded so closely that they will be in each other’s lives forever!
After celebrating her 75th birthday (yikes), Linda pondered the idea of “retirement!” Looking back on all the mothers and families she has met over the years, Linda treasures the memories and appreciates the impact the program has had on these families. These days you might see Linda with her husband, Jeff Blum, and their “fur baby” Maddison walking around town as she enjoys her retirement and considers what her next passion project might be…so stay tuned!