Hi, I’m Gina, founder of Gather & Play
and mom to Jax.

Gather & Play was born from both a deeply personal journey and a simple realization:
no parent should have to raise a child alone.

After becoming a single mother to my young son, I experienced firsthand how important community is during the early years of parenting. My extended family lives outside the area, and after my divorce, I no longer had the support of my former in-laws. Rather than accept raising my son in isolation, I began building a chosen family—surrounding us with close friends and their young children. Those friendships became our village, providing encouragement, laughter, practical support, and a reminder that parenting is easier when we do it together.

One afternoon, when we discovered that the library was closed, my son Jax and I wandered into Phoenix Books, our local independent bookstore. In the window was a children's book about elephants. We brought it home and, ever since, it has been one of our favorites.

As we read about elephant families, I was struck by their remarkable social structure. Elephant herds are led by experienced females, and mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and aunts all help nurture and protect the youngest members of the herd. The responsibility of raising a calf belongs not to one parent alone, but to the entire herd.

That image stayed with me.

It became the inspiration behind Gather & Play's guiding belief:

It Takes a Herd.

This philosophy reflects our belief that children flourish when they are surrounded by caring adults, supportive friendships, and opportunities to play, learn, and grow together. Caregivers also deserve spaces where they feel seen, welcomed, and connected.

My hope is that every family who walks through our doors leaves feeling just a little more connected than when they arrived. Because when families have a herd, everyone thrives.