When Sarah Puskas launched Lorain with Littles in January 2023, it started as a simple Instagram page for parents seeking free things to do with their kids. What began as one mom’s search for connection during postpartum isolation has quickly grown into a movement linking hundreds of Lorain County families through monthly playdates, partnerships, and a shared mission to make childhood experiences affordable and inclusive.
“I never imagined it would become what it is now,” Puskas said. “At first I just wanted to post about local story times and nature programs. Then families started showing up, and the need was clear.”
From Library Meetups to County-Wide Events
The first playdate took place at the Lorain Public Library in February 2023. Within weeks, attendance swelled from a few parents to nearly a hundred children and caregivers. Soon after, Altitude Trampoline Park offered its space for free, allowing more than 100 families to attend.
“Those early events showed us how much people wanted something like this,” Puskas said. “We realized we could make it bigger than a social media page.”
The board was formed in mid-2024 and now includes eight active members led by Puskas as executive director, Heather Knoble as president, Rachael Ellis as secretary, and Angel Messer as treasurer. Former co-founder Anneisa Truman stepped back last year to focus on family but remains a supporter.
A Mission Rooted in Access and Inclusion
The group’s mission is simple: connect families with each other and their community through free or low-cost activities. Every event, usually two hours long, features a themed story time, music, crafts, and a raffle donated by local businesses.
“We always try to make it something memorable,” Ellis said. “It’s about giving families a chance to do things together they might not otherwise afford.”
Attendance now fills within minutes of registration openings. Recently, 70 spots were claimed in just 42 minutes.
Puskas and Ellis said grandparents and kinship caregivers often attend as well. “You see generations connecting,” Puskas said. “It reminds me of how my grandma took me to story times when I was little.”
Growing Toward Nonprofit Status
The board expects to complete its federal filing before the end of 2024, paving the way for grants, partnerships, and tax-deductible donations. “Becoming a 501(c)(3) will open so many doors,” Ellis said. “We can finally apply for funding, secure larger venues, and expand programs safely.”
The group has already raised about $1,000 for filing costs through fundraisers such as the Blippi Bootacular and the Blippi Back to School Bash. They have partnered with organizations such as the Child Care Resource Center, Rising Titans kindergarten-readiness initiative, Amherst Kids Closet, and Lorain County Imagination Library. The Amherst Kids Closet partnership is brand new, and the group has collaborated with the Imagination Library several times.
Looking Ahead
Future plans include sensory-friendly playdate hours for children who find crowds overstimulating, virtual bedtime story sessions led by board member Dawn Woodward, and more collaborations with local organizations. Woodward is a former children’s librarian with a master’s degree in children’s literature and will be the one facilitating the virtual story times.
Long-term goals are equally ambitious. The group envisions a rainbow-painted bus one day traveling across Lorain County to bring playdates directly to neighborhoods where transportation is a barrier.
A Community Effort
Lorain with Littles operates entirely on volunteer effort. The board balances full-time jobs and family life while organizing events, managing social media, and assembling resource folders featuring libraries, playgrounds, and family-service contacts across the county.
“We all work forty-hour weeks and still find time for this because it matters,” Ellis said. “The joy on the kids’ faces makes it worth every minute.”
Puskas agreed. “After years in corporate design, I wanted to do something that actually helped people. This, seeing families laugh and connect, this is what I was meant to do.”
Lorain with Littles invites families, volunteers, and local businesses to get involved through donations, raffle prizes, or event space. Email lorainwithlittles@gmail.com or follow Lorain with Littles on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
