JOY STORIES: Early 2026 — Parents find support, grow in financial stability

Read these brief stories of progress and hope from families in the FamilyForward program as of early 2026.

Clearing out the clutter: One important step toward financial stability

Mom B had rented a public storage unit for several years. When her FamilyForward volunteer mentors proposed the idea of eliminating that monthly expense, Mom B felt overwhelmed at the idea of sorting, organizing, donating or purging all that “stuff” from previous chapters in her life.

There was a time when Mom B felt emotionally unable to part with any of that stuff. But slowly over time, with the support she received from FamilyForward, she developed the motivation to tackle the contents of that storage unit and move forward with this current chapter in her life.

Early in the year, she set the goal of emptying the storage unit before the June rental payment was due. Every weekend for several months, Mom B spent time at the storage unit to discover what was actually in there — what she had been holding onto for so long — and to decide what to do with it. She was surprised at how much she chose to throw away or donate. In the third week of May, Mom B texted her volunteer mentors to let them know that the storage unit was finally empty and closed, and she now has $75 per month to put toward other bills. Achieving this goal was an emotionally powerful achievement in her journey toward financial stability.

Mom’s growth sets a good example for her kids

As the single parent of two teenagers, Mom J constantly struggles to balance her hours at work with spending time at home with her children. She wants to pick up overtime shifts, but she wants to be present for her kids. Like so many single parents, Mom J frequently feels like she is falling short, either at work or at home. But her hard work — both on the job and at home — has been starting to pay off.

Caught up in the daily grind of life, Mom J hadn’t noticed just how much she was growing and positively influencing her family. One evening she received a phone call from the coach of her son’s high school football team. Mom J told her volunteer mentors that when she answered the phone, her immediate first thought was, “Uh-oh, what did he do?”

However, the coach was calling to tell Mom J that her son is thriving on the team. In fact, the coach said, “Whatever you are doing at home, keep doing it.” Mom J is delighted that her son has found a support system of teammates and adults who motivate him in the classroom and on the field.

Much like her son, Mom J has found a support system — at FamilyForward. And her growing confidence and small, but important successes demonstrate how her life is changing for the better, empowering her to continue to be a good role model for her two teenagers.

As each participant in our family program works, in their own way, to learn new life skills, move toward financial stability, and find new and significant ways build a better life for their children, FamilyForward is there for them, every step of the way.