Celebrate Mother’s Day by Helping Homeless Moms

This Mother's Day, , a homeless shelter for women and their children, suggests a gift of a donation that would help support local mothers and their children who need it the most.

“We’re asking the community to consider making a lasting gift this Mother’s Day, a donation to Lucy’s Hearth,” said Jennifer Barrera, Lucy’s Hearth’s director. “We’ll send a special Mother’s Day card to whomever you are honoring, and, if you choose, post their name on our website.”

Lucy’s Hearth serves homeless mothers and their children through an emergency shelter program, a transitional apartment program, a permanent apartment program and an outreach and aftercare programs. Most of the mothers served are in their late 20s, and the children are newborns to 16 years-old.

“Most are young mothers with very young children,” said Barrera.

Some residents have histories of homelessness and are at high risk of becoming homeless again, Barrera said. The causes for the residents’ homelessness include economic hardship, inability to find affordable housing, eviction, family crisis, separation and divorce.

Over the course of a year, Lucy’s Hearth serves in the range of 45 mothers and 80 children through its emergency shelter, transitional apartment and permanent apartment programs.

During their involvement with Lucy’s Hearth, mothers work toward their high school equivalency degrees, improve English language skills, learn job search and financial management skills, and obtain employment.

Their children attend school, receive assistance with homework, take field trips, and receive clothing and toys. Mental health and early intervention services are provided on-site, and shelter staff work to ensure the mothers and children have access to health care services through community resources.

The shelter tracks the progress of its residents, measuring areas such as parenting skills, income, life skills, employment, mental health, credit rating and educational improvements, to name a few.

The Mother’s Day initiative is a project of the Friends of Lucy’s Hearth, a group of volunteers assisting the shelter with community activities.

For information on how to make a donation in a mother's name, contact Lucy's Hearth at 401-847-2021 or info@lucyshearth.org, or visit its website at www.lucyshearth.org.