It was shocking when she revealed her age.
Dressed in orange sweats and worn-out tennis shoes, with thinning graying hair clipped to the back of her head, Mae* told her story.
“I’m 50 years old,” she said. The lines on her face testified to the difficulty of those 50 years.
Mae became a single mother early and raised two children on her own. Finances were a struggle, but she managed.
Now that her children are all grown, Mae manages for herself with various jobs. She waited tables, cleaned houses – whatever it took and whatever she could get.
But her life changed abruptly when she gained custody of her three young grandchildren. They are too young to be left alone, and her meager wages cannot provide childcare.
“These kids – I love them, but it’s hard. I’m brokenhearted that I can’t give them what they deserve,” she said.
But GraceWorks could – through the generosity of our many donors. Mae received vouchers to the GraceWorks Thrift Store for a couple of beds, linens and children’s clothes. She was given a large shopping cart full of food and told she could get more food each month. She also was given utility bill and rent assistance.
“I didn’t know what I was going to do,” she said. “This will make all the difference in all our lives. I am so grateful.”
*GraceWorks does not use actual names to protect Neighbors’ privacy.