Make the holidays brighter for twin boys who lost both parents 2021

The Moms Club of New Lenox supports stay-at-home moms and gives back to its community each year during the holidays.

This year, the club is giving back to the 9-year-old twin boys of one of its most supportive members.

Four years ago, Melanie Mouk of New Lenox, the mother Ryder and Brayden Sorensen, joined the organization, according to Gretchen Valenta, president of New Lenox Moms Club.

“As a mom, she was just very loving and caring and the boys were just her top priority,” Valenta said. “For every birthday, every holiday, she would just above and beyond for them.”

Melanie’s husband Brandon Sorenson, 45, died in his sleep on Feb. 23 of a heart attack, Valenta said. Then Melanie, 46, had a stroke or a heart attack on Nov. 19 and died Dec. 10, Valenta said. Ryder and Brayden’s aunt, who is like a second mother to the boys, is currently their foster mom, Valenta said.

Valenta said she started the “Twin Boys Lose Both Parents Within Same Year” GoFundMe page on Sunday night. By noon on Wednesday, donations surpassed $21,000. The twins meant the world to their parents and the club wants to help ensure the boys are helped now and in the future, Valenta said.

“That’s what we’re here for – to support and accommodate stay-at-home mothers,” Valenta said. “Every month we play a variety of activities for moms and children to engage in. But our number one priority is giving back to our community through our yearly fundraiser. We do this during the holidays, in December.”

The cruel irony is that the Moms Club of New Lenox had already planned to help the family before Mouk became ill.

“We knew the holidays were coming,” Valenta said. “It’s a hard time of year for them, their first Christmas without their father. We had a meal train going to her to let her know we were there for her. The boys were so excited, and it was so nice to see them excited and looking forward to something. They were overjoyed for Christmas. They were singing songs and [saying], ‘Oh, I can’t wait to put up the Christmas tree.’”

The club presented the boys’ wish list to Santa, and he has it on his radar. Valenta said other members are making monetary donations and the best way for the community to donate is GoFundMe.

Valenta hopes the community can open their hearts to help.

“Melanie was the most selfless and giving person that I knew,” Valenta said. “She was always thinking of what she could do to help others.”

Donate at gofund.me/1d59c252.