For most young adults, going off to college is an exciting adventure — a new chapter that promises to deliver new friends, unique experiences and an escape from dependence on parents.
But for single moms just starting college, the path to higher education can be overwhelmingly stressful. Many of these women want and need to continue their education for the sake of their children, but financial and emotional roadblocks lurk around almost every corner. Quite often, college is a journey they never get to complete.
Since 2001, Arizona-based Helping Hands for Single Moms has provided the extra assistance and encouragement single mothers desperately need — including financial help and mentoring.
“We are a scholarship program that serves low-income single moms throughout (earning) their college degree,” says Jacinda Dawson, Helping Hands program director. “The criteria for our program is they have to be a single mom, not reside with a domestic partner, be enrolled in a college-degree program and have a GPA of 2.8 or higher.”
The program aims to dramatically improve lives of those single moms and their children, which in turn helps out the community as a whole.
“Education is the key to changing society,” Dawson says. “These women will no longer be dependent on state assistance. They’ll be financially independent and providing for their family with insurance through their employer, and they’ll have retirement and everything else that raises that quality of life.”
Along with a monthly stipend to spend, Helping Hands also provides recipients with services donated from local businesses. More than 50 companies and community partners provide free services, such as hair cuts, auto repairs, holiday gifts, AAA memberships and more.
“We have three dentists and an endodontist that assist with any of their dental needs,” Dawson says. “And even a carpet-cleaning company that goes out and cleans their carpets if need be.”
Helping Hands doesn’t focus solely on financial or material help. Single motherhood can sometimes be a lonely road to walk, especially for those attending college. While their childless counterparts can party after a big test, these moms have kitchens to clean and kids to bathe. To fend off feelings of isolation and promote mutually supportive relationships, the program offers moms a chance to connect with one another through its single-moms community-college meetups.
“We host about six to eight of these events per year where they can meet and talk with other young women who are on the same path and draw some inspiration from each other,” Dawson says.
Angelica C. of Phoenix, a Helping Hands participant who requested we not use her last name, has been pursuing a career in physical therapy for the past six years. The 35-year-old divorced mom of four — ranging from 4 to 15 — joined the program at just the right time.
“I went to one of the meetings to just kind of check it out, and it was one of those things where literally everything just fell into place,” Angelica says. “I was hanging by a thread … nobody understands how hard it is. I didn’t even know a person could function on only three hours of sleep.
“But I met all these women who were doing the exact same thing as me, and I was like … this is possible! I saw them and said, ‘OK, you’re alive, and you’re still (in school) and your children are fine. … We can do this!’”
With Helping Hands, Angelica says she’s able to focus on her long-term goal.
“You have a lot of guilt, because you can’t take your kids to the movies or to Disneyland or have their friends over, because you’re so busy,” she says. “But Helping Hands makes it possible for you to get a little bit of relief, and you can keep some of the normalcy for your kids while keeping your eyes on the prize.”
MORE INFORMATION: To learn how to apply for scholarships through Helping Hands for Single Moms, visit helpinghandsforsinglemoms.org.
