SUPPORTING PEARL
CHANGES LIVES

PEARL has helped me so much with my car, ensuring I have a safe and reliable vehicle for my daughter, Andrea, and myself to get around. They have fulfilled so many needs but the one that sticks out the most is Christ-like love and support. The support I get from my mentor, and other beautiful women has gotten me through the darkest time of my life. Their constant encouragement and uplifting words continue to motivate my walk with Christ, show me that God does have a plan for me and it is better than anything I could every foster on my own.

I am so grateful to Pearl for helping me get on the road to self-sufficiency. I was spending three to four hours a day on the bus with two young children. Between school drop-off and pick-up times, and the time spent in a bus line, I was looking for a couple part-time jobs with the hope of one of them allowing me to work at home during the evenings.

Being on a single-mom schedule, my options were very limited, and I was losing hope that I would ever be able to work and support my family. Then the flood hit and I felt even more discouraged – doing the math, there was no way I could earn enough through my employment to pay for rent, childcare, healthcare and food costs while being dependent on the bus.

At one point, I considered not working as hard, and instead just claiming disability and learning to be content with food stamps, rental, medical and childcare assistance. But then PEARL gave me hope that it is possible to be successful like other single moms in their programs. Now with new motivation, encouragement and a car received through the PEARL Transportation program, a whole new world of possibilities opened up for me: I now have a full-time job that pays my expenses, I started graduate school, and both of my children are in the same school with an after-school program.

Thank you to PEARL for the opportunity to reach my goal of being self-sufficient.

I grew up in a very strict Independent, fundamental, Baptist home. I was in church 4 times a week, and "soul winning" on Saturday's. But after graduating high school, I strayed away from the church, began making poor decisions, and compromising on my beliefs.

Like many single moms, I made the decision to marry someone at the wrong time in my life, and it resulted in an eventual divorce. My choices left me the single mom of an amazing, smart and beautiful little girl, Lisa, but my unwavering stubbornness still closed my heart to all that God had in store for me.

When Lisa was 3 months old she had heart surgery and was hospitalized for RSV 2 months later. I could no longer control my circumstances. I couldn't keep it all together. I remember one night laying in bed crying out to God for forgiveness and begging for help. "God, I can't do this alone!" I needed God to help me clean up the mess I made.

A few weeks later, I was introduced to PEARL.  They helped me so much, especially with my car, ensuring that I have a safe and reliable vehicle to get Lisa and myself around. They have also fulfilled so many needs but the one that sticks out the most is Christ-like love and support. The support I get from my mentor and the other beautiful women, at the Single Moms’ Group, has gotten me through the darkest time of my life. Their constant encouragement and uplifting words continue to motivate my walk with Christ, showing me that God does have a plan for me and it is better than anything I could ever foster on my own.

Being a single mom is the hardest, but most rewarding job I have ever had. I can't imagine doing it without the help of the Single Moms’ Group. All of this support would not be possible without PEARL, LifeBridge Christian Church and the volunteers involved with the Single Moms Group. I could never thank them enough for the love and support.