Being a Single Mom is Tough
Between coping with feelings of self-doubt, the burden of being the sole provider for the family, and worrying whether they are making the right choices, the challenges can feel insurmountable.
That’s why Mom2Mom offers programs that reduce stress and invest in long-term well-being of single moms living in poverty in Vancouver. One of the ways we do this is through our Compassion Fund: a reserve fund that provides participant moms with direct financial support.
This Mother’s Day, we’re inviting our community to help support 70 single moms and over 100 children by giving to our Compassion Fund.
It’s the perfect time to offer moms in your community that extra boost so they can focus on what truly matters to them: supporting their children.
YES! I WANT TO SUPPORT SINGLE MOMS IN MY COMMUNITYIt’s difficult to put into words just how impactful the Compassion Fund is for single moms. Here are just a couple recent examples of how it is making a difference:
Leanne* is a single mom living on disability who struggles with asthma. She and her children live near the train tracks which intensifies air pollution. Because of this, breathing became a serious problem for Leanne. When she told her relationship volunteer, Kaylee*, what was happening, Kaylee immediately reached out to the M2M team for support. Within days, Leanne was delivered a new air purifier. She was so overwhelmed with relief that she started crying.
*Names changed for privacy
Everything Paige* does is for her daughter, Julia*. When Julia was struggling with chronic tooth pain and headaches, Paige took her to the dentist who explained she would need surgery and braces. Although Paige was relieved Julia’s pain would end, she was now facing hundreds of dollars in dental bills that MSP wouldn’t fully cover. The Compassion Fund was able to cover those additional costs so that all Paige had to worry about was taking care of Julia.
*Names changed for privacy
Beyond the financial relief of the Compassion Fund, its very name is crucial to the intention of the program.
“I am thankful every day for Mom2Mom… knowing they are there for me when I need them is a big blessing that brings me such solace. I hope that more mothers can benefit from this program and that it continues improving lives for many years to come.”
The immense pressure single moms are under comes at a price, with many moms sacrificing their own mental and physical well-being in order to care for their children. Skipping meals so that their kids can eat, for instance, isn’t an uncommon occurrence.
At Mom2Mom, we want to challenge that narrative by promoting self-compassion and creating a community of judgement-free support.
In our 2021-22 annual program evaluation, participant moms said that Mom2Mom’s support gave them more confidence in their parenting role and reduced stress.
When single moms know they have a community cheering for them that they can lean on, they are able to practice self-compassion. And, when they feel good about themselves, moms can better support their children.