Salvation Army Helps Single Mother Set her Children up for Academic Success
A few years back, everything changed for Sarah (not her real name), as she suddenly became a single mother of three.
Since Sarah was at home caring for her family, she could not work at the time and the uncertainty of how she was going to afford to pay the bills, buy food and cover other necessities quickly took over.
“With the extra money that I am saving I am able to buy them other things they need for school.”
“It was a tough scenario to navigate. I wasn’t sure about what was next,” Sarah says.
However, she was not going to give up easily. Sarah began looking for resources within her community in Langley, B.C., that could assist her. Soon, she connected with The Salvation Army, which introduced her to initiatives that currently benefit her children, such as summer camp and the back-to-school program.
The latter continues to help Sarah by providing her family with all the essentials before each academic year.
“It’s exactly what I need,” she shares. “With three children, this helps a lot. The average cost of supplies for one is between $60 and $78, so I have to multiply that by three. With the extra money that I am saving I am able to buy them other things they need for school, such as indoor shoes and jackets.”
“I think it’s also important for their development to know that they’re not lacking anything.”
This back-to-school program provides Sarah’s family with backpacks filled with notebooks, binders, pencils and sharpeners—all the basics to help them start the new term prepared.
Sarah says her children always look forward to pick-up day at The Salvation Army and believes this assistance is setting them up for success.
“They are always excited to see what their backpacks are going to look like,” she says. “I think it’s also important for their development to know that they’re not lacking anything.”
After years of raising multiple children on her own, Sarah is grateful for the community’s ongoing support.
“It’s nice to know that there are people out there willing to help,” she adds.
As for her experience with The Salvation Army, Sarah appreciates the programs available to her family, which are making a big difference in their lives.
“Everyone at The Salvation Army is so kind, helpful and welcoming,” Sarah says. “My children are growing with the organization by their side. They look forward to going to Camp Sunrise each summer.”
By Juan Romero
