Readers offer suggestions for single mother

Dear Readers: A distraught single mother’s plea (Jan. 9), brought a huge response. She asked for ideas to improve her life. She’s struggling with a minimumwage job, earning hardly enough money to care for her three children and herself and none for extracurricular activities.

Your ideas give this mom some things to explore:

1: I once taught two brothers who were sharing one pair of winter boots. Staff rallied and we outfitted the family as needed. Please encourage her to speak to the children’s teacher. Is there a secondhand shop such as the Salvation Army store or Value Village?

2: I strongly suggest she request a meeting with the social worker assigned to the school, as they can help her make the connections she needs for support.

3: I’m a volunteer with extracurricular activities that are sponsored by the city. We will not refuse anybody based on financial constraints. All children are invited to join and participate.

4: Food banks, community centres, Salvation Army, United Way and the Red Cross all have resources for people who need help. They cannot give her money, but they can help in other ways.

5: I suggest she visit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in any Catholic Church that has it. She doesn’t have to be a Catholic. They will help her with a monthly coupon for groceries. They can also provide her with clothes.

6: I was able to put the kids into Boy Scouts and Girl Guides because they have a program that helps people who can’t afford these things. Big Brothers and Big Sisters helped out as well.