Are there resources available to help with supplying food?

[natenapril]

Long story short, I know a single mom who is having trouble making ends meet. She tried to get food stamps but they said she only qualifies for $38 a month. Her take home pay is approx. $400 a week but daycare eats up $125 of that. She is on the list for help with daycare costs but the list is long. She usually decides whether to pay electric or food. She's really struggling and I was trying to come up with ways to help. Are there any resources out there for her? She has come to her breaking point and is considering giving up her kids. She loves them dearly and is a great mom and this breaks my heart.

So if anyone know resources that I can contact to get her help I would appreciate it. I live in MI but she is in NC.

 

[21yankees]

Local churches may be able to help. Angel ministries (low cost box of food) may be available in her area. How old are her kids? Is she eligible for WIC? What about a program that lowers her electric bill through the company?

These are just off the top of my head. I'm sure you'll get a lot more answers.

 

[natenapril]

Local churches may be able to help. Angel ministries (low cost box of food) may be available in her area. How old are her kids? Is she eligible for WIC? What about a program that lowers her electric bill through the company?

These are just off the top of my head. I'm sure you'll get a lot more answers.

Her kids are 1o months and 13yrs. And both have dead beat dads She does get WIC for the 10 month old which is a godsend for her. I am going to get ahold of Angel ministries. THanks!


edited to add: I just went to the Angel food ministries and placed an order for a box for her but they do not have pick ups until the 27th.

 

[disprincessatheart]

It's been several years, but the last time I was laid off I was single and volunteered at a food bank to keep busy when i wasn't looking for a job. They would interview the person about their situation, but pretty much if you came in asking they assumed you needed help and you walked out with food. They also had help for utilities and sometimes prescriptions, but that all went quickly at the beginning of the month and required a past due bill for the utilities. Programs like that may or may not still be available but if she's in the Raleigh area I can research the place I used to volunteer.

 

[natenapril]

It's been several years, but the last time I was laid off I was single and volunteered at a food bank to keep busy when i wasn't looking for a job. They would interview the person about their situation, but pretty much if you came in asking they assumed you needed help and you walked out with food. They also had help for utilities and sometimes prescriptions, but that all went quickly at the beginning of the month and required a past due bill for the utilities. Programs like that may or may not still be available but if she's in the Raleigh area I can research the place I used to volunteer.

She's in fayetteville. Not sure how far that is from Raleigh. Thanks for helping. I am a mess worried about her.

 

[crazelion]

Try contacting the Food Bank. I know that help people and need. I would try call local Untied Way and see if there is list of places get food at. It usely is in our area.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

If she has Progress Energy for electric I believe they have an assistance program, their website just says to call their 1-800 number for more info., but I know I've seen it mentioned on my bills.

 

[natenapril]

So I've made a few calls and I apparently $400 a week is too much income for 3 people so there is no help for her. I did pre order a box from Angel food ministries. One place just asked me why I was not supporting her.

 

[Disney845]

You probably left a lot out of your original post, but I have to imagine that there are a lot of steps she could take before planning to give the children up. $400 a week take home would be a tight amount to support 3 on, but it should certainly be manageable without the children going hungry. After the daycare that leaves $1100/month. Could you break down the rest of her expenses for us so we can see where that is all going?

I know that getting the food is the immediate problem she needs help with, but perhaps you could be looking at her expenses and seeing where you can help her with better financial planning to get herself in a better place.

Can she barter with the daycare facility to clean the place in exchange for the kids staying there. Or maybe find an alternate method here...maybe she and another single mom could combine forces and work alternate shifts so they could watch each other's children?

Could she pick up an additional job, something she could do without paying for more child care (newspaper route, lawn work, cleaning houses, etc...if it is something without withholding, make sure she understands her tax liabilities and plans for that).

Can you help her plan menus which would stretch her food budget? Things that are healthy for the children, but cheap! Can she grow her own veggies (I know that isn't an overnight thing)?

 

[bethy]

Oh my goodness this is so heartbreaking!

I bet there are a lot of churches in the area who would so want to help a single mom avoid giving up her children.

And about the place that asked why you weren't supporting her I do get why you were taken aback. But at the same time, if I'm being honest, I understand why they asked that question. I think that at some point that is where the rubber meets the road - each of us looking out for each other in the most direct and efficient way possible. At least in the short term while teaching each other to fish at the same time. In fact all of the ministries and charities people are suggesting ARE funded entirely by private donations. If the only thing that were preventing my friend from keeping her children was her ability to feed them for a few months then I'd probably do whatever I could to spot her some cash.

Of course I don't know your personal situation I'm just commenting in general.

 

[Victoriarose1968]

These may help:

Fayetteville Urban Ministry - 701 Whitfield Street, Fayetteville, NC - (910) 483-5944


Second Harvest Food Bank - 406 Deep Creek Road, Fayetteville, NC - (910) 485-8809

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

If the oldest is 13, that's old enough to baby-sit the 10-month-old while mom works a second job evenings and/or weekends. Deliver pizza, whatever.

 

[allison443]

If the oldest is 13, that's old enough to baby-sit the 10-month-old while mom works a second job evenings and/or weekends. Deliver pizza, whatever.

I also noticed that the older child is 13 and I was thinking the same thing as you!
I assume the daycare costs are for only the younger child. The baby is ten months-will the daycare costs go down in the near future (i think sometimes it's more for an infant, less as they get older)

Does she have any family that can help out? Before she has to give up her children.

Has she totally exhausted all efforts to get child support from the two fathers?

OP I hope your friend's situation improves.

 

[Glenn]

A couple of strange questions first. Was your friend considered single at the end of 2010 & did she file for earned income credit when she filed her taxes in 2011 for 2010? Your friend may have been eligible for an extra tax refund last yr called earned income credit. Its an extra credit for lower income families especially with families. I ask because i know someone that did their own taxes & didnt file the extra forms because they didnt know about it. When they amended their return they got almost 1000 extra back. Have her check her return. oh another idea, do you get any coupons she could use to extend her budget? Send them along.

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

A couple of strange questions first. Was your friend considered single at the end of 2010 & did she file for earned income credit when she filed her taxes in 2011 for 2010? Your friend may have been eligible for an extra tax refund last yr called earned income credit. Its an extra credit for lower income families especially with families. I ask because i know someone that did their own taxes & didnt file the extra forms because they didnt know about it. When they amended their return they got almost 1000 extra back. Have her check her return. oh another idea, do you get any coupons she could use to extend her budget? Send them along.

Oh yeah... when I was a single parent, I never paid federal taxes and always got a "refund" of $3000-4000 every year, the EIC and child tax credit.