It was 1979. Brenda was a single mom with a precious 4 yr old
boy and a sweet 6 yr old little girl. She did not meet the income required to
rent an apartment. She did not have the income to meet basic expenses on her
minimum wage job. Relatives were nonexistent, non-involved in helping her
survive the trauma of being shamelessly abandoned. Food banks, Shelters, Soup
kitchens were not in existence and there was still a rancid stigma for single
mothers in the churches.
She would eat AFTER the children which consisted of a single
can of chicken noodle soup per day watered down and a prayer that her son would
make it (live) to the free lunch program when he was ready for school.
The furnace would only be at a level to keep from freezing
and keeping the black mold and utility company at bay. Cardboard was used in
shoes to plug holes. There was the constant struggle and anguish to put the
children in foster care, just to get them fed and out of survival stress for a
period. Just one more day Lord. Just one more day. We don’t have enough to live
and too much to die. If you are a good God, please take us and end this
destitute existence.
Thanksgiving. Brenda had a total of $2.00 to celebrate Thanksgiving
with dignity. Dignity was a Cornish game hen that she explained to the children
as being a baby turkey and two potatoes. She could not muster the imagination
to explain the lack of fixings, the pie, the dinner rolls, without the pain in
her heart of being a failure and being failed.
Today, Brenda, and many women who were brave enough to
connect with Call Mom are successful professionals lending a hand (not a
handout) to families in need and doing what they wish somebody would have done
for them and especially the children.
Thank you ladies for your perseverance, your humility, your generosity,
your grace, and your empathy.
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