By Suzanne Laurent
Staff writer
LONDONDERRY – The Nutfield MOMS Club (Moms Offering Moms Support) has raised one-tenth of the funds
it needs to make a new playground on Nelson Road a reality. The group began fundraising at Old Home
Day last August, when it sold 100 fence pickets for the future playground that could be personalized
for $50 each.
The MOMS Club then held its first Touch-a-Truck event last September, and has raised $20,000 to date.
They need $200,000 to tear down the rusted and worn playground built in 1991, purchase and install
new equipment, and landscape the area.
Melissa Coffey, a member of the Nutfield MOMS Club and co-chairwoman of the group's Project P.L.A.Y.
(Playground for Londonderry's Active Youth) is planning a second Touch-a-Truck event to be held on
Saturday, June 16.
"It's Father's Day weekend, and should be a fun family event," said Coffey, the mother of
two young girls.
Kerin Brown, who is new to town, joined the event committee and has lined up fire and police vehicles,
as well as military vehicles, a tractor trailer, Hummer, dump truck, snow plow and even a Fed Ex truck
for the day.
"We are planning to have an area just for face-painting, temporary tattoos and other activities,"
Brown said. Once again, area businesses have donated items for the day, including pizza from Harold's
Square, to help with fundraising. Fence pickets will also be for sale.
MOMS Club President Lara McIntyre said the plan is to break ground for the new playground in the fall.
"We'll have to reassess our target date after Old Home Day," she said. The group, comprised of about
60 active members, is planning a golf tournament to be held in the summer.
"We are also approaching businesses for donations," Coffey noted.
The new playground will have two areas, one for ages 2 to 5 and one for 5- to 12-year-olds. Currently, the
moms have to wait until school is out for the day to use the schools' playgrounds or trek over to a
neighboring town. They are looking forward to having their own play place in Londonderry.
Coffey said her girls enjoy the Touch-a-Truck event as much as the boys do.
"Parents had fun, too, especially on the fire and police vehicles," she said.
Donations can be mailed to Project P.L.A.Y., P.O. Box 312, Londonderry, NH 03053.
Please e-mail the MOMS Club at
nutfieldmomsclub@yahoo.com
for further information or questions.
