AMHH Newsletter ~ Real Single Moms Helping Single Moms ~ SUMMER 2015 Volume 1, Issue 1 Updates AMHH is pleased to present you with our first issue of AMHH Newsletter – an informative source of upcoming events, achievements and encouragement to our moms, supporters, donors and community. Each issue will provide you with upcoming fundraisers, events for moms, volunteer opportunities and more. In the short time since AMHH has opened its doors, we have grown to 16 moms and 20 children. We have distributed approximately $300 in Bare Necessities, 2 Birthday Boxes, help training classes to assist moms with life skills, started a budgeting program and helped a mom with a premature baby with many needed essentials. We continue to search for our permanent home, a regular meeting place for our moms. While it has been a small obstacle finding a place to meet each month, we are confident a place will be secured. Donor Highlights We are blessed to have wonderful donors; we could not continue to help our moms without their kindness and generosity. Linda has been very fortunate in her life. She’s dedicated to helping children since retiring in SWFL. She believes no child should ever go hungry or not have a surprise for birthday or Christmas. Single moms have so much on their shoulders just paying for necessities, Linda felt drawn to our organization because we are local. Many other charities move money out of Lee County where so much is needed. Linda watched her sister at twenty two working multiple jobs to support herself and two young children. While she did get child support, it was only $90 each month for two kids which barely paid a portion of her rent. Linda always felt there was a divine reason she could not have a houseful of children because that left her to help others. In addition to being a strong supporter of A Mom’s Helping Hand of SWFL, she is a strong supporter of Boys and Girls Club of Lee County, Donate 4Kids, Suncoast Community Neighborhood Task Force, Gifts of Hope, Toys for Tots, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Salvation Army, and Oma’s Heart. We are very thankful for Linda and her giving heart. She truly is helping to make a difference here in SWFL. Volunteer Profile Casey Arellano is one of our volunteers that enjoy giving back. Many years ago, Casey was a single mom herself raising 2 young children. She remembers the struggles and frustrations of being a single mom. Casey is currently tag teaming her efforts with her husband Simon and recruits her younger children in aiding in the support of volunteer work. In addition to coordinating volunteers for our fundraisers, she is also Girl Scout leader and is an office manager at a nonprofit private school. Stories of Impact SWFL has been flocked with flamingos to benefit our back to school program. Often time’s students are going back to school without the tools necessary for everyday learning. This not only makes learning a challenge, but is forced to explain why they are not prepared to not only the teacher but their fellow class mates too. This adds anxiety and stress that no child should ever have to face. Board Member Spotlight – Kristen Schaufler, President For Kristen, helping at AMHH is personal. She has been a single mom of 4 for the last 13 years, since her youngest was born. “I know and understand the struggles of being a single mom,” she says. We’re glad to have her dedication. While she has only been working with non-profits for a short time, she has her BA in Business Administration. “Working with our moms, I am able to see how local nonprofits really make an impact in the community…It is a testament to the act that a passionate few really can change the world.” AMHH was started to help those that feel they have nowhere to turn for support, friendship, and financial support. Kristen says that one of the most meaningful experiences she’s had at AMHH was delivering a Birthday Box to one of the children of a single mom. “She thanked and hugged me and said it was one of the best gifts she had received. It was a great feeling knowing we touched someone so much and showed her what giving is all about.” This gift turned out to be a simple cross stitch kit. Nothing special but it meant the world to this sixteen year old girl. “I felt that was a great moment because the SWFL community is a very active community and many folks don’t stop to think about the cause that we are supporting, what we are supporting is our community.” Kristen says she would love to see AMHH expand beyond the 16 families we are currently serving and to bring more awareness to our community of the need we are filling. Article Around the Web Are Single Parents all Created Equal? Stacey Freeman, Senior Editor, DivorcedMoms.com My now ex-husband has been living overseas for more than five years, beginning (almost to the day) two years prior to when we officially separated during January of 2012. Although we legally agreed to joint custody, the reality is, due to my ex's proximity (or lack thereof) to our children, I retain full physical custody of them most of the time. So when I titled my article and referred to myself as a single mom (which I wholeheartedly believe I am), I didn't anticipate being met with criticism from others who argued I am not, in fact, a single mother because my children's father continues to play a role in their lives. Read full story Our Upcoming Events· July 26, 2015 2:00 p.m. Quarter Auction Elks Lodge 4631 SE 10th Pl August 15, 2015 Back to School Event Time and location TBD. For the safety of our families, only those that are volunteering or VIP sponsors and donors will be in attendance. Simple, but not so easy…For many single moms getting the kids ready for school can be a painful process of determining what must be eliminated, in order to purchase school supplies. The average cost of school supplies for one child to return to school fully prepared averages $60, and of course we haven’t even touched new school clothes. Consider the dilemma of a parent confronted by the list of supplies each child must bring to school. Even kindergartners must bring crayons, pencils, glue, construction and copy paper, glue sticks, etc; by 5th grade, to that list is added composition notebooks, pocket folders, pens and more, while high school students’ lists are even more extensive. Unlike cloths and uniforms, most of these items won’t last through an entire school year and will need replacement once or several times. Life’s challenges are many for children of single parents whose economic hardship has brought them to our program. The challenges of not being able to obtain school supplies should not be added to their shoulders. Perhaps, as they read this article, several community members, businesses, and donors will consider contributing to AMHH “Going Back to School Prepared” project, so that every student of a single mom in need is prepared for the first day of school. A (tax-deductible) gift of: · $20 will supply basic school supplies · $30 will purchase an appropriate backpack · $40 will provide school supplies with the backpack · $50 will provide a full set of basic school supplies · $60 will provide a full set of basic school supplies with the backpack. Gifts of any size will make a difference and are greatly appreciated. To make a donation, send a check payable to
A Mom’s Helping Hand of SWFL (AMHH) P.O. Box 100021 Cape Coral, FL 33910 Gifts can also be made online http://www.amomshelpinghandofswfl.com/school-supply-drive.html For more information and to arrange for delivery of school supplies, call Kristen Schaufler, 239-895-5341.
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