“In 2017, I picked up a mother carrying a newborn who was walking miles to Walmart. She came to Mobile to be with the child’s father. He abused her even while she was pregnant, and she got out of the situation. I bought formula and items the mother needed then drove them to the shelter where they were staying. I don’t know the woman’s name and never saw her again, but she changed my life. God called me to help other single parents who are going through the same hardships I have been through.

I lived in a shelter with my mom when I was a little girl. I grew up in poverty in bad neighborhoods. I am not just trying to help, I can relate. My kids are 10,7, and 4, and they inspire me. Leaving an abusive relationship made me a single mother with two kids and pregnant with a third. I had no job. I was desperate and considered abortion. I got a lot of help from the Women’s Resource Center in Mobile. I took one of their parenting classes and was the most prepared I have been with my third child. I now have an amazing daughter.

I am a single mom raising three kids, but I have great support from family and friends. They are a village to me and that is where the name The Village Foundation came from. I also now have a better parenting relationship with the father. A lot of people don’t have those people to count on. Now with COVID 19, they shut down daycare and after school care. Thankfully my village helps care for my kids so I can still work.

I was just approved for non-profit status for The Village Foundation. We started officially as the non-profit on April 3. But I have helped families on a much smaller scale since 2017. Our first project as a non-profit was to get supplies to families who needed them for homeschooling. I was able to help 16 kids. We are also helping parents get free or low-cost tutors to take the stress of parent-child relationships. I want to match children with the right tutor with people who are in education or are in college. I am also working on getting gift cards for food. I also hope to do parent surprises and surprise them with gift cards to enjoy something with their family or by themselves. As a single parent, I understand the little things single parents need.

Two years ago, I brought home only $6,000 for the year and that had to change. Last year I took on a second job and delivered groceries by Instacart. I made $18,000 for the first time in my life. I saw my kids much less, but I was able to do so much more for them and take them more places. I now save my tax refund, pay up bills, and save money to take my kids somewhere during the summer.

It can be hard to get jobs as a single mother. I went to an interview at Arby’s with all three of my kids. They asked what I had for sitter services and told them, ‘I don’t know, but I will figure it out.’ They didn’t call me back. My friend was assistant manager at another Arby’s which was far from where I lived. I went to the interview again with my kids. I was honest about not having sitters, but promised I would figure things out. The man who interviewed me said he had kids and understood. He hired me. I am now a manager and on the other side and can give other single parents a chance. I thought being a single parent would be the downfall of me, but I turned it into my superpower to do the best I can for my kids. I am so thankful for the people who took chances on me.

I want to help parents be their best selves, learn how to budget, and get their lives on track and do better for themselves. They feel like no matter what they are doing, it is not good enough, but you are doing everything you can. They can’t afford the extras and feel bad for always saying no.

If you are leaving check to check, you may not have money for field trips if the bills are coming up. Or a school dance or kids grow out of uniforms fast. We also help sponsor snacks at school. Our next program is back to school to cut and style kids’ hair to start school. We need cosmetologists and barbers who can do hair.

I want The Village Foundation to be hope and give chances that can change someone’s life. Everything good I have now came out of some of the worst times of my life. It isn’t easy, but if I had given up, I wouldn’t be here. I am not exactly where I want to be, but helping others is my purpose and will help me get there.”