I used to lay awake at night wondering, “Will I have enough to feed my son this month?”
I’m a single mom. My six year old son, Emmett*, started grade one this year and loves to swim. He looks forward to his swimming lessons every week. I love seeing him climb out of the water, panting and beaming with pride.
But the truth is, things weren’t always so easy..
“Before I got connected with Mom2Mom, life was a struggle. I had to budget every penny I had towards my food. There were times I had to put things back when I was in the grocery line.”
Even though I followed a strict budget for food, I was forced to rely on the food bank to get myself and Emmett through the month. This is reality for most of the moms at Mom2Mom: we are constantly looking for ways to feed our families and ample, healthy food feels completely unattainable.
Being under this kind of stress and pressure rubbed off on my son.
“Since joining Mom2Mom in 2016, I feel like I’m able to be a better mom to Emmett. I’ve seen a lot of changes in my son from receiving less stressed-out care from me.”
Through support from donors, I receive $100 a month in grocery support, plus a grant for Emmett’s swimming lessons. I’m so grateful.
Like all moms in the program, I am paired with a volunteer, Leslie, who offers me friendship, a listening ear, and a window to new experiences. Leslie lives a different lifestyle and seeing this gives me something to strive for.
Mom2Mom is a really great resource for my family. Being able to talk to Leslie about anything and having her support, plus the connection to other moms the community, is invaluable.
“Erica is a loving and caring parent but firm where she needs to be. You can tell that everything she does, every decision she makes is for the wellbeing and benefit of her son. I admire her strength and her courage. Erica stands up for herself and, more importantly, she stands up for her son.”
- Leslie, volunteer
Thank you for your commitment to moms like Erica, who are already doing everything they can to provide for their children. Your generosity helps Mom2Mom surround Erica, and the 61 other moms in our program, with the practical and emotional support she and Emmett need to thrive.
*Names have been changed to protect privacy.