Mary’s Story: Holding On by a Thread

Mary never imagined she’d be standing in line at a food pantry, her youngest child tugging at her coat, asking when they’d go home. Just months earlier, she had a steady job, a small apartment, and dreams for her children’s future. But when her company downsized, everything unraveled.

The rent piled up. The power went out. Nights were the hardest the darkness made the silence heavier, and the fear louder. She called agency after agency, but the process was a maze. Every unanswered call felt like another door slamming shut. One afternoon, Mary heard about Hope Connect Navigator.

Desperate, she searched her area and found exactly what she needed housing assistance, a local pantry, and an after-school program that welcomed her children with open arms. Within weeks, her lights were back on. There was food in the kitchen, and her children were coming home with stories of new friends and activities. Mary could finally breathe. Today, she says, “Hope Connect gave me the lifeline I prayed for.

It didn’t just meet my needs it gave me the courage to rebuild.” You can be part of the reason another family finds their way out of crisis. Your $25 helps connect them to vital services and to hope they thought was lost.