SUPPORTING PEARL
CHANGES LIVES

Being a single parent can be quite challenging. It often means taking care of a lot of people and tasks with little support. Pearl has blessed us in various areas of our lives and at various times; assistance with rent (while attending college), gift cards from time-to-time (when my food stamps don’t seem to stretch the needs of the month), their Car Clinic (has helped keep my car in running order), and the readily available prayer, which gets me through difficult times.

I am enrolled in school and on my way to being a High School English teacher so that I may improve our lifestyle and care for my family in a manner that is satisfying. Pearl is a real blessing, I can lean on their support in times of need; it makes me feel as though I’m not doing it all alone.  I’m so very thankful for them.

I didn’t realize [as a mentor] I’d have the opportunity to grow such a wonderful friendship with my student. It was so rewarding! It was a growing experience and a project in progress.

I became a single parent when my husband of 7 years abruptly left for his longtime affair.  My son, Rob was just 18 months old and my daughter, Samantha, had just turned 3. I was left without family close to support me, and shortly after, I began attending LifeBridge Christian Church’s Single Moms Group.

There are many struggles a single mom faces and debt was my challenge. Though I was blessed to hold a decent job, the refinance of our home, left me in a tight predicament. Though I was struggling to provide what my children needed, my income put me right above the cut off to receive any type of government assistance and even reduced school lunches for my children. I didn’t qualify for loans because my debt was too high and my income too low and the fact that I had good credit or a good job didn’t matter. I was unable to purchase a car and home repairs were out of the question. I felt I was pretty much stuck and just barely staying afloat.

When I was accepted into PEARL's Focus Pearl Program I was given an opportunity to re-evaluate my life by looking at where I was and how I wanted our future to look. As a single mom, focusing on the future was never something I was able to do because I was always focused on just surviving, staying afloat and keeping my children safe and happy. With support and encouragement from my Mentor Family and PEARL's Leadership Team, I was able to step back and look at my life, asking what it was that I wanted to do and where I wanted to be. I didn’t have that kind of support, in my life, before PEARL.

As I started the Focus Pearl Program, I began keeping a journal.  I looked at my finances, career, household needs, my children’s needs/wants and finally my personal life.  I set goals and took little steps like consolidating credit card bills.

I have been blessed to have been matched up with a great Mentor Family. I really thank Elaine and Pete for being my mentors. Elaine has been fantastic and really encouraged me to look at myself and set goals and dreams, for my children AND for myself, as well! Not only have I accomplished so many things thanks to Pearl’s Focus Pearl program, but I now have lifetime friendship established with Elaine!