By Michael Smith
When Bridee Manning was looking for a new homeschool support group about seven years ago, she tried several groups in the area but none of them seemed like a good fit for her family.
Then she checked out Brandon Homeschool Fellowship (BHSF), a Christian homeschool support group that has been encouraging and supporting homeschool families in the Brandon area for almost 30 years. She felt at home in the group right away and has never left.
“[BHSF] was the one that fit, it was the one that was ‘family’ right off. They embraced me, they said hello to me, they accepted me and my [two] children,” Manning said at BHSF’s annual kick-off Friday, August 4, at First Baptist Church of Riverview. “It’s more than just a homeschool group, it’s a family.”
And even though her children have graduated from high school she is still part of the group. “You’re connected with these people forever.”
Brandon Homeschool Fellowship plans regular extracurricular activities for children and parents, and members enjoy a weekly park fellowship day on Thursdays during the school year. Members share information relevant to homeschool families on the group’s online member forum.
BHSF also has several clubs that plan field trips and activities (elementary, middle school, high school and mom’s social).
The group has an initiative called MUM (Moms Uplifting Moms) in which an experienced homeschool mom commits to mentor a new homeschool mom for the school year.
Membership is open to homeschool families whose oldest child is at least K4 and up.
Those interested in becoming a member are invited to come to BHSF’s weekly park fellowship day at Saladino Park, located at 1705 Bryan Rd. in Brandon, on Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. during the 2017-18 school year. Welcome Team members will be available to answer questions and help you register.
The membership fee is $45 per family. Each family is required to choose two service areas in which to serve. This can be setting up or cleaning up for a party, planning a field trip, or helping with a fair.
For more information about Brandon Homeschool Fellowship, visit its newly redesigned Website at www.brandonhomeschoolfellowship.com.
