AlpharettaMoms.Org Participates in 'Trouble Next Door' to air on OWN Feb. 23

Last spring, AlpharettaMoms.Org (Layne and I) was volunteering at the Alpharetta Arts Streetfest when we were approached by producers from the Oprah Winfrey Network. These ladies dressed in all black kind of stuck out amongst all the families surrounding the Out of the Box booth where we were volunteering. But at the same time, Layne and I both wore “AlpharettaMoms.Org” T-shirts which caught their attention.

The women were in Alpharetta looking for people that might be able to help them with a show about an Alpharetta family in need.  They wondered if we might be able to help this family in some way or if we knew maybe other resources that could assist.  We were curious for sure. Was this for real?  They want to interview us and if we were chosen, include us in a show that would be aired on television?!

Trouble Next Door is the show that makes you realize that the most amazing people might be living right next door. Each episode features one desperate family in crisis that opens their doors and reaches out to their neighbors for help.  The show about Katie Golloher that we are involved in will air on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 11 am. on OWN! Here is the description from OWN:

Trouble Next Door
Five Times the Trouble
An overmatched single mother struggles to deal with her five children, including a demanding Autistic son and a young boy with intense anger problems. Her heartfelt plea puts the community in motion to save the family. PG.  Read more: http://www.oprah.com/own/tv-schedule/index.html?date=2013-02-23&stype=daily#ixzz2L4LZa6pO

AlpharettaMoms.Org had the opportunity to meet and help a family in our own “backyard” that truly needs it and that is what we take away from this experience.  As the producers would say, “It takes a village to help a family in need and we want to help bring the community together to help this family in need.”

The premise of the episode we participated in revolves around an Alpharetta family in need.  Katie Golloher is a single mother to five children, with one son who is severely autistic and she needed help.  The struggling mother, Katie Golloher, was at wits end trying to care for her children on her own not only financially but emotionally.  We were compelled to do all we could to help this woman and her family, not just to be on a television show.

This particular family is in our “backyard” and has so many reasons to reach out for help.  Katie must be aware at all times of what and where her autistic son, Huey, is because he can get into trouble quickly or just wander away.  Not to mention, she has 4 other children that need help getting to sports, with homework and their own personal mommy time.

Throughout the taping of the episode, we were able to meet many fabulous members in the community, all who were willing to reach out and help Katie with various needs.  A bake sale was organized by the OWN and held at our neighborhood’s clubhouse to raise money that would help send the Golloher family on a family vacation.  We were astounded at the outpouring of help from our very own neighbors, many of whom baked delicious cookies or cupcakes to sell at the event.  We taped at our house where we held an “AlpharettaMoms.Org meeting” and invited Katie to join our group.  We really wanted (and still do) Katie to feel like she is not alone and she doesn’t have to go through these struggles all by herself without any help.

The OWN filmed other episodes in Georgia and throughout the country showing how communities come together to help those in need.  We would like to thank all of our friends and neighbors who participated: those who gave their time to help tape the episode, opened their home or business for filming, and those who baked for the bake sale.