From Surviving To Thriving
Many children enter foster care because of life-threatening abuse or neglect, though this is not always the case. Often, there are single mothers desperately trying to make ends meet, but they lack the resources to do so. This can put their children at risk of entering foster care due to circumstances outside their control.
You can imagine how exhausting it would be to do everything you can to care for your kids, and it still not seem like enough.
Our Family Care program was created out of our desire to keep families together. This year, 27 families have stayed together through this unique program. Not only are they provided a roof over their heads and a warm bed, but through the program, these mothers are equipped for a better future. The program helps them gain or maintain employment, save money, receive counseling, and learn life skills such as budgeting or healthy parenting techniques.
Juanita is one of those moms who has been deeply impacted by the program. She noticed early on that her son, Randall, had a different way of learning. After years of extensive tests and doctor visits, they discovered Randall had a learning disability. He required special care and attention, eventually costing Juanita her job due to the time it took to care for him.
While working hard to meet Randall’s needs, Juanita constantly worried whether the lights or water would be cut off because she was behind on bills. Randall also had specific dietary requirements, and she did what she could to ensure he had the food he needed. That left little room for her nutritional needs, though, and for months she survived on chips and salsa because that’s all she could afford. Surviving day-to-day took a toll on Juanita mentally, financially, and emotionally.
“When we got to the program, I just cried . . . because I could breathe again,” shared Juanita. “I could think and plan for the future because I wasn’t caught up in the day-to-day and just trying to survive that hamster wheel anymore. I had the time to breathe without feeling that I was sacrificing my child’s wellbeing.”
God used your generosity to empower Juanita to dream of a better future. During her time in the program, she started her own virtual assistant business. Not only that, but she was also able to save up toward purchasing a home through Habitat for Humanity!
The pandemic stalled the process of Juanita’s home building, so your support allowed her to extend her time in the program to almost three years until her home was completed. You provided even more stability for her family during a turbulent time. She was desperate for a better way for her family, and that’s when she came across our Family Care Program.
Today, they’ve moved into their home, and Juanita’s business is thriving. Most of all, she’s thankful that God used your support to get her there. “I’m blessed for the level of love, the level of care, and the level of safety [I had in the program],” said Juanita.
You can empower mothers just like Juanita for a better future. Not only would you provide them with a roof over their heads and a warm bed, but you can equip single mothers and their families for a better future. Learn how you can do that here.