Being a single mother can be challenging. Lots of them struggle with juggling multiple responsibilities such as being the primary caregiver, provider, and emotional support for their children, making it both physically and mentally exhausting. With single moms trying to provide the best life for their children, some of these mothers are never able to buy nice things such as clothing for themselves. It is more important to them to put their children in a top school to be able to eat dinner that day, so new clothes start to become less and less important.
The name of this organization, E.S.T.H.E.R, is also a biblical reference to Queen Esther. In the Bible, Esther is a woman who stood up to all the men in Persia to save her Jewish culture. Here in Orlando, E.S.T.H.E.R. is gathering single mothers from everywhere in the area to praise the Lord with them and show them that there are holy ways to flip one’s life back around and to have hope that good will appear soon. They have monthly meetups when they discuss ways participants can love Jesus and turn to God. They also have a youth ministry where the children can stay and play. Additionally, they teach the mothers how to raise their children in a Christian way.
E.S.T.H.E.R. collects new and gently used clothes from people to be able to give back to these struggling families. When the clothes are delivered, volunteers begin to separate which are dirty or clean. The clean clothes are then washed, hung up, and placed in the main area of the building. Here is where these mothers can come in and shop for themselves and their children for free. It is a truly heartwarming experience to see all of the clothes being put up, knowing it will go to a good cause.
On Heart of a Highlander day, a group of Highlanders went to complete service hours at E.S.T.H.E.R. This acronym stands for Encourage, Strengthen, Teach, Help, Equip, and Restore, all powerful words that can empower these moms. Here, the group helped out with certain tasks such as making goodie bags and sorting food and clothing. However, it was especially heartwarming to see all of the clothes being hung up, knowing that a family that is going through a rough time can have some joy in their life. While everybody was completing these activities, the mentors explained the purpose of the non-profit organization.They stated that they wanted to bring complete wholeness to the hearts and minds of single mothers and their children. This is achieved by giving back to some of the less fortunate mothers. Many were touched after discovering what some of these women go through. This organization asks for help in the simplest ways possible like bringing in food, clothes, and snacks, making it feasible for many people to give back to the community.
Giving back to the community can make anybody feel good about themselves, as it allows them to make a positive impact on the lives of others. When you help someone or contribute to a cause, it can bring a sense of fulfillment and purpose. This organization also provides a food pantry. E.S.T.H.E.R offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner to these families and gives them a limited amount of meals for them to share every week. Sadly, because of the amount of families being served there, it is sometimes quite hard to say no to some of them. There will usually be an abundance of a certain food but sometimes limited in variety. For instance, a lot of these mothers can only make peanut butter sandwiches due to the fact that the average person is more likely to only donate the peanut butter. This is another issue with milk and cereal. Food pantries provide the essential nutrients and food that these families need. They help combat hunger and ensure these families have access to food. If anybody is ever wondering how they could help out in their community or give back to those who are less fortunate, a great idea is donating types of food to this organization.
All of these women just need a little motivation in their life to get back on track. Not a lot of people acknowledge single mothers and see the work they put in to allow their children to have great lives. A few boxes of pasta, old clothes someone doesn’t wear anymore, and even a small donation of five dollars makes such a difference to these families. Finding service places like these, and helping out, can bring a smile to someone’s face and change their lives for the better. Visit esthersmo.com for more information on how to sign up and donate. Every donation makes a difference.
(Mary Collins)
