“I feel way more confident in myself and my ability to be a mom.”
Sarah grew up in a middle-class family and had big dreams. Once she graduated from college, she married and had children. She says, “things didn’t work out so well.” Her family experienced homelessness for a while, but when she connected with Catholic Charities Family Connections, she began to regain her direction and learn to support herself and her two children.
By the time Sarah found Catholic Charities, she says she felt defeated, hopeless, dark, negative, and angry as to why this would happen to her. She says that she felt lost as a mom, but when she came to Catholic Charities, she was treated with nothing but respect, kindness, and empathy. It changed her life and how she views life.
On her first meeting, she and her case manager developed a plan. She says Catholic Charities helped her find her inner strength again, and with their help, was able to meet goal after goal, and eventually regain control of her life. “The support I received from Catholic Charities empowered me. They were “a hand up, not a handout.”
During this time, Sarah was able to secure an apartment. She will proudly tell you this is the first apartment she has had on her own for more than six months. Her church gave her a donated car to help her get to her job as a child care worker and take her children to doctor’s appointments and to school. Catholic Charities has been able to help with car repairs and gas as needed.
Sarah has made great strides. She became a certified nursing assistant (CNA), primarily to take care of her daughter, who has some medical issues. Eventually, the CNA license can be an expanded source of income. She accessed online school for her daughter, affording them both more flexibility, and her son enrolled in Head Start – an early learning program, allowing her to work more hours.
Catholic Charities has helped Sarah become more self-sufficient and has given her the know-how to access resources in times of crisis. It has become the community that supports and empowers her to achieve her goals. She has gained confidence in her abilities and gifts and feels more equipped to encourage and parent her children. She says, “I feel way more confident in myself… and my ability to be a mom.”
At Catholic Charities, we respect everyone who comes to us for help. Many are working toward a fresh start in life. So while their stories are true, client names and images may have changed to protect their privacy.
