Growing a Community One Family at a Time
If you spend more than five minutes with Kimber Wager, you’ll quickly realize two things: she’s passionate about people, and she has a gift for seeing the bigger picture. That “macro brain,” as she calls it, has shaped her journey from being a clinical social worker to now leading MomsBloom, a Kent County-based nonprofit where new parents find community and tangible support.
Before MomsBloom, Kimber spent five years as a social worker doing home visits for families with infants and toddlers who had disabilities. Her days were filled with helping parents navigate trauma, building healthier family cycles, and supporting parents so their kids could thrive.
It was during those years that Kimber first found out about MomsBloom. She regularly referred families to their all-volunteer team and saw firsthand the difference their services were making. Eventually, she thought: why not me too? So she started volunteering 15 to 20 hours a week (yes, this was all before she had kids of her own). “I wanted to support parents in a different way,” she says. “And so many of the gaps I was seeing in my professional life…MomsBloom was filling.” It didn’t take long before she knew this was where she belonged. After about a year of volunteering, funding made it possible for her to have an official spot on the MomsBloom staff.
Shortly after joining the team, Kimber became a mom to a sweet little boy (and has added another beautiful boy since). Becoming a new parent only deepened the belief Kimber had in MomsBloom. Even with her background, she admits she struggled with feelings of shame and guilt when even she didn’t follow through on the services offered by MomsBloom (even after she initially signed up). And while she thrived in those first few months postpartum, the months that followed were harder than she expected. That experience shifted her perspective in her role. “People need different help at different times,” she says. “And that’s okay.” Kimber is a major advocate in for MomsBloom and new parents, appearing on local news shows, showing up at events, and conducting ongoing education and research. Through this work, she’s continuing to support as many families as possible to help the community she loves thrive.
For Kimber, one of the biggest things she wishes more parents knew is that asking for help shouldn’t feel cliche or shameful—it should feel normal. “I want to see the village improve across communities,” she shares. “We’re all about building connections and belonging.” MomsBloom helps make that happen by playing matchmaker between volunteers and families, weaving together a community that feels supportive, accessible, and unique to each family’s needs.
As hard as Kimber works, she’s also intentional about joy outside of her role. She tends to a beautiful flower garden (side note, she is very active in her local “plant it forward” Facebook page, which we didn’t know was a thing!), goes rock hunting along Michigan’s lakeshore, and recently discovered a love of audiobooks.
Looking ahead, Kimber dreams of MomsBloom continuing to grow while staying rooted in what makes it special: connection. “Every community is unique,” she says. “But what doesn’t change is the need for belonging.” You can learn more about MomsBloom on their website momsbloom.org or by following them on social.
