From One Match to 17,000: How a grassroots idea became a lifeline for mums
Born out of compassion during the pandemic, Let’s Match Mums’ founder Louisamay Hanrahan is reimagining how we support one another through motherhood, migration and the everyday realities of parenting in Ireland.
What inspired you to start Let’s Match Mums? Was there a particular moment or personal experience that sparked the idea?
During the pandemic, I lost my job and wanted to use that time to do something meaningful. There was this incredible moment in Ireland when it felt like the whole country was coming together, people supporting each other in really genuine, grassroots ways. That collective shift toward community really resonated with me. I began collecting cleaning supplies and essential items for refugee centres across the country, responding to the immediate needs I was hearing about. Many refugees were confined to their rooms with little or no access to shops or basic necessities, and I just wanted to do whatever I could to help.
Over time, I built connections with women in those centres, and I started hearing about a real lack of access to baby clothes and kids’ goods. I wasn’t a mum myself, so I didn’t fully grasp the scale of the issue, but I could see how hard it was for these women. I put out a call on Instagram for donations, and the response was overwhelming. The quality of the items was unbelievable, everything was folded, labelled, and beautifully cared for. The problem wasn’t finding good stuff. It was redistributing it. I remember one moment in particular that sparked the idea for the matching system. I was picking up donations from a mum who said, “Come back in six months when my child’s bigger.”
It made me think: the mum receiving these clothes also has a growing child—won’t she need bigger clothes in six months too? What if the two mums could actually know each other? That moment stuck with me. I realised this wasn’t just a one-off charity drive—it was a systems failure. And maybe, just maybe, I could help build something better.
How has the initiative changed over the last few years?
At the start, I honestly thought Let’s Match Mums might be a short-term project—something that would last a few months, maybe just until the end of the pandemic. I saw a need and wanted to help fill it, but I didn’t imagine it would still be going four years later, let alone grow into something that now feels like a permanent fixture in the parenting landscape in Ireland.
That’s been one of the biggest shifts for me: realising this isn’t just a one-off initiative. It’s something that people genuinely need, long-term. The growth itself has been completely organic. We started with a small pilot—just 14 refugee mums matched with 14 mums from the community. I put up a simple post on Instagram, and then Amy Huberman shared it. The next day, 1,400 mums had signed up, and the link actually broke from the demand. That was the first sign that we were solving something bigger than I had anticipated.
Back then, it was just me. I wasn’t a mum yet, so while I could see the logistical gap, I didn’t yet understand how deeply people care about where their kids’ things go, and how heart breaking it is to throw these expensive sentimental items in the dump. Over the years, that understanding has grown. I’ve been invited into the mum community in a really beautiful way, and I’ve learned so much from listening to what they want and need.
We’ve also grown in structure. We now have people working alongside me, and we’re always trying to improve the service whether it’s making matching more efficient or just making mums feel more supported through the process.
What has the journey been like, from those first matches to now helping over 17,000 mums?
It’s been deeply rewarding—but also really hard at times. I’ve always worked full-time while running Let’s Match Mums on the side. There’s never been a big team or budget behind it. I’ve relied on volunteers and on the support of a community that truly believes in what we’re doing.
But even with all the momentum, I’ve still had people—some from major Irish charities—tell me that this was “just a phase,” that it would eventually fizzle out. One of the hardest parts has been getting institutions to take this issue seriously. The issue isn’t vague—it’s right in front of us. There’s a massive, visible gap in how we support parents, especially when it comes to the redistribution of children’s goods. Let’s Match Mums fills a need that almost no one else is addressing.
In many ways, I don’t feel like I’ve powered this project. I feel like the community has. They’ve shown me the way. Because I wasn’t a mother when I started, I was quite naive to the scale and emotional weight of the problem—even though I knew something was broken. I honestly didn’t think this would still be going four years later. I thought I might match a few mums, and maybe it wouldn’t take off. But then I saw the impact, and realised: they actually love it. That was a real turning point for me.
It’s been a complete voyage of discovery. I’ve met people I’d never have met otherwise. I’ve been embraced by the mum community in such a generous way—getting invited to coffee mornings, including at refugee centres, and connecting with families from all walks of life. It’s opened my eyes to an entire side of society I wasn’t part of before, and I feel really lucky to now be in that circle.
At the same time, it’s been painful to witness just how broken the system is. To see parents struggling. To see pristine children’s items going to waste. I was always interested in sustainability and the circular economy, but this work has deepened that passion into something much more personal. I once visited a charity warehouse and saw piles of kids’ clothes—some with tags still on, some from high-end brands like Ralph Lauren—destined for disposal. That moment hit me like a punch. It felt like a crime against both families and the environment. So the journey’s been one of constant learning emotionally, practically, politically. And I’m still learning every day. But I know we’ve built something meaningful, and I feel incredibly proud that it’s lasted, that it’s grown, and that it continues to help mums across Ireland feel a little more seen, a little more supported, and a little less alone.
In many ways, I don’t feel like I’ve powered this project. I feel like the community has. They’ve shown me the way.
Why is it so important to you that this isn’t just about donating—that it feels like helping a friend?
This approach was powered by the community. They explained to me that motherhood is such a fundamental shift in your life. When you’ve been through it—or through any kind of transformational challenge—you naturally want to help others just starting that journey. I went through a really difficult period in my twenties after a serious injury. I was out of work for a few years, isolated, and it took everything I had to recover. Coming out the other side, I remember just wanting to help someone else who needed a hand up. That’s how I started working with refugees. I saw people arriving in Ireland, trying to rebuild their lives from scratch, and I related to that feeling of needing support to get back into society. I think motherhood is similar. You see someone stepping into this new, overwhelming phase—and you recognise it. You know how hard it is. And you just want to help.
The idea of passing on kids’ goods isn’t something new—it’s something parents have always done. It’s a tradition. You pass things on to a cousin, a neighbour, a friend at work—someone in your circle who’s just had a baby. But when refugees arrive in a new country, they don’t have that circle. They don’t have the aunties or the school-gate mums or the old college friend with hand-me-downs in the attic. That informal support network doesn’t exist for them yet. And that’s what Let’s Match Mums is really doing—we’re rebuilding that circle. We’re saying: you’re not alone, and someone here wants to help.
We’ve had mums report that their match became a long-term friend. Some pairs have stayed connected for over four years. I’ve experienced that too. Early on, I matched with a mum by collecting items from one mother and delivering them directly to another—just so I could understand the experience myself. The mum I delivered to has two little girls, and she’s since become someone I regularly check in with. Watching them grow up, seeing their milestones—and honestly, they’re so adorable—has been incredibly meaningful. Being part of their story, even in a small way, has truly stayed with me.
Let’s Match Mums isn’t just about stuff. It’s about belonging. It’s about community. It’s about rehumanising support systems that can often feel cold or clinical.
Can you share a story or moment that really stayed with you?
There are so many moments, but one that always makes me emotional is when I delivered a pair of Ariel dolls to two little girls. They had just started watching the new live-action Little Mermaid, and they’re both Black—so to see their joy at recognising themselves in this new version of Ariel was incredibly moving. These dolls looked like them—and that mattered.
They were completely overjoyed. It was such a powerful and emotional moment. I was lucky enough to bring a dollhouse to those same girls. I remember when I was little, I wanted a dollhouse more than anything. My parents couldn’t afford one, so my grandfather built one for me from scratch. It was one of the most magical moments of my childhood—and when saw them lose their minds with joy, I thought: this is what it’s all about. Not just the item, but the feeling.
What do you wish more people understood about refugee mums in Ireland today?
That they’re not asking for charity—they’re asking for opportunity, for stability, and for respect. Many of the refugee mothers I’ve met have been through unimaginable hardship. They arrive here ready to work, ready to build a better life for their kids, but they often find themselves stuck in systems that weren’t built with their needs in mind.
One mum I worked with told me that before receiving support through Let’s Match Mums, she had lost all hope. She was deeply depressed and felt invisible. But when she received her first package, it wasn’t just about the items—it was the message it carried: you’re not alone, and someone cares. That moment gave her hope. Today, she has a great job, beautiful kids and a real sense of purpose. That transformation didn’t come from a grand policy shift—it came from consistent, human-centred, community support.
And it’s not just refugee mums who are struggling. Parenting in Ireland is tough across the board. Nearly one in five children lives in poverty or social exclusion. Kids’ goods are expensive, and they’re outgrown in months. There’s a real sense that parents are being left to figure it out on their own. And yet, this issue—redistribution of kids’ goods—is still dismissed by many institutions. I’ve had major charities tell me the whole idea would fade away. But four years on, we’re still here. Still growing. Still being contacted by parents every week who say, “I need help” or “I have things to give.” That tells me we’re solving a real problem—one that people want to be part of fixing.
Every match is not just an exchange of goods—it’s a connection, a reminder that we’re not so different.
What’s your hope for the future of Let’s Match Mums, and how can people get involved?
My biggest hope is that we can keep improving the system—to make matching faster, more scalable, and more accessible in every part of the country. I want Let’s Match Mums to be around when I’m lucky enough to have children myself! I’d love to see it become a lasting part of how we parent in Ireland—a natural way for families to support one another.
One project I’m especially excited about is a recipe book we’re putting together with mothers from our community—sharing food from all the places they’re from. Food is such a beautiful expression of culture, and this book will celebrate that richness. It’s a way to share stories, heritage, and comfort across kitchens and continents.
I also want to deepen our work around the circular economy and inclusion. Ireland is changing. It’s becoming more divers—but also, in many ways, more divided. And what we’re doing at Let’s Match Mums is about bridging those divides, one small act of kindness at a time. Every match is not just an exchange of goods—it’s a connection, a reminder that we’re not so different.
We’re powered by mums, so if you’re a parent who has items to share—or someone in need—please reach out. You can sign up on our website or follow us on Instagram @letsmatchmums. Let’s Match Mums started as a grassroots response to a crisis. But it’s become something much more. And we’re just getting started.
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