Faith Forward Families was founded from both personal experience and a deep recognition of an overlooked need in single-parent households. As a working single mother, I understand the emotional weight parents carry while balancing financial responsibilities, work demands, and the desire to create meaningful memories for their children.

Like many single parents, I experienced years of wanting to provide more than necessities, wanting to say “yes” to opportunities, experiences, and simple moments of connection that strengthen family relationships and create lasting memories. While many support systems focus on financial assistance, I often found myself in the difficult space of being a working parent who earned just enough to disqualify me from most forms of support yet still struggled under the weight of everyday responsibilities. There were seasons when asking family for help with groceries, utilities, or unexpected expenses became emotionally exhausting and deeply humbling. Along with the gratitude came guilt for needing help, guilt for wanting to create joyful experiences for my children when simply covering necessities already felt overwhelming, and guilt for carrying burdens I often kept private. Like many single parents, there was no option to stop or give up; the only choice was to continue moving forward while hoping for better moments ahead.

As I reflected on the incredible support my family, friends, community, and even complete strangers provided throughout my journey, many of whom may never fully realize the impact of their kindness, I recognized how deeply emotional well-being, a sense of belonging, opportunities to give back, and shared experiences contribute to the strength and health of a family. I experienced firsthand the enormous blessings of God working through the people around me, often through simple acts of generosity, encouragement, and compassion during both difficult and meaningful seasons of life.

My faith remains at the center of this journey. I am in awe of how faithfully God carried my family through every season and how intentionally He placed people in our lives to help move us forward. Those experiences planted a deep desire to become a good Samaritan for that same compassion, encouragement, and generosity in the lives of others. I want to embody God’s compassion and become a channel of his grace, just as the Samaritan did in Luke 10. Through my own experiences, it became clear that families deserve more than survival, they need connection, community, and moments that matter.

         I established Faith Forward Families to help bridge that gap and create as many #momentsthatmatter as I can.  Equally to create opportunities for families to make a difference by giving back through acts of service and shared volunteer experiences. I believe when our children see our example, experience the raw gratitude of a community coming together for each other.