Meet Hailey: Mom & Senior Support Worker
“We were alone, without much support,” says Hailey*.
Hailey is originally from Brazil. She came to Canada almost 15 years ago to secure a bright future for herself. Before Hailey and her young son got connected to Mom2Mom, she was pursuing English language prerequisites for college and searching for an affordable place to live.
“I was going to school, working on my English, and I was raising a child on my own. It was a hard and lonely time,” she explains.
It was through the counsellor at her son’s elementary school that Hailey first heard about Mom2Mom.
“That was 6 or 7 years ago. I got help right away and things started changing. I got connected to Jackie, a Mom2Mom volunteer who has become my friend. We have a great relationship. I know her whole family and my son does too. We’ve even spent Christmas together for the last few years.”
The monthly grocery support Hailey receives from generous Mom2Mom donors has been vital. When months are lean she counts on your support to help keep food on the table.
“I go grocery shopping once a month and that helps a lot. And a lot of things I wouldn’t have been able to find without Mom2Mom. For example, for activities and summer camps for my son, Mom2Mom helped me access subsidies.”
“Hailey and her son have become a part of our family. They come to our house for Christmas dinner and they attend the kids Christmas party at my father’s work. Up until COVID, we got together for coffee and walks, and went grocery shopping once a month. The grocery support is massive for Hailey. When things are lean, she has always been able to count on it to feed her family.”
- Jackie, Mom2Mom Volunteer
Hailey finished college in 2015, having graduated from the social services program as a Youth Specialist.
“But as a single mom, with a son who has ADHD, I didn’t have anyone to help me with childcare, so I ended up not being able to get a job in my area. So I work as a Support Worker for seniors.”
Since the pandemic started, things have been especially tough for Hailey. She is considered an essential worker, but has not been able to work as much.
“When schools closed in the spring, I could not afford full-time childcare for my son. All I could afford was 4 hours a day, so I had to cut back my shifts. Before I was working 6-7 hour shifts while he was in school. When my son woke up one morning with a fever, I had to stop everything to monitor him for 10 days. All that time, I could not work. The shifts I’m booking now sometimes get cancelled at the last minute because a client starts feeling sick.”
Hailey maintains a positive attitude about this challenging season because she knows she can rely on the Mom2Mom community for support.
“We take it one day at a time. So far, we have enough to eat. But if we have to quarantine for 14 days, it is hard to prepare. I want to have an emergency food fund, but it is tough because I am working less and don’t have a lot to spend.”
Hailey became a Canadian citizen last year. Her son, who was born here, is already a citizen.
“It was a big accomplishment,” she reflects. “We can’t travel yet because of the pandemic, but now that I have our passports, I’d like to take my son to Brazil to meet his extended family. I haven’t been back since 1999.”
“When Hailey became a Canadian citizen, I had the honour of attending her citizenship ceremony. When we were first getting to know each other, I was always just listening as she shared about her struggles and her loneliness. But over time, Hailey started to ask how I was feeling and wondered what was going on with my adult son. So it became more than just me being there for her. She became a friend. And she’s gained so much confidence. I see her tackle things now and she does great - because of the Mom2Mom experience.”
- Jackie, Mom2Mom Volunteer
According to Hailey, what sets Mom2Mom apart from other organizations is its singular focus on moms.
“For moms, especially single moms like myself, the donations you make mean so much. With it, we can buy food for our kids. My family here in Canada is my network of friends that I got from Mom2Mom. I say thank you. And one day I hope to be at the level that I can start giving back.”
Will you help a mom like Hailey by providing the practical and emotional support she needs to thrive?
*Names have been changed for privacy.