Families We've Helped
Happy Tears
Mary Beth* is a proud wife of an active duty soldier and mom to four beautiful children, ages 16, 11, 7, and 4. While her husband was last deployed to Afghanistan, she and her children resided in Washington State, where Mary Beth worked at a job she loved. With her nursing background and Masters in Social Work, she felt comfortable knowing that she would be able to help financially support her family as they moved for her husband’s military career.
Recently diagnosed with breast cancer, Mary Beth was forced to leave her job and start aggressive treatment for her cancer – surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation – all while preparing the family to move to a new duty station across the country.
Going from two incomes to one, plus the additional expenses involved with moving, negatively impacted the family finances. Relocation was expensive - deposits needed to be paid, the children needed new clothes because of the warmer climate, and one of the children developed asthma. Still not medically cleared to return to work, Mary Beth was having a difficult time paying their bills. They were behind on their van payment, had little money for groceries, and were struggling to stay afloat.
Mary Beth didn’t’ know where that week’s groceries were going to come from and barely had enough gas in the car to get down the street when she contacted Home Front Hearts and was extremely grateful for the quick response she received. Through our work with partner organizations and supporters, Home Front Hearts was able to quickly rally behind this Army family. Emergency funds were overnighted to the family so they could buy food, gas, and clothing. Several months worth of payments on the sole source of transportation for this family of six lifted a huge weight from the family’s financial burden. Connections to local family support efforts at this duty station will also provide additional support for this family within their new community.
We recently received this note from Mary Beth:
Randi and Angels,
Please let the angel, angels, whoever know I'm smiling BIG today and for days to come. I felt the biggest energy burst and cried many happy tears. My family will be unable to say anything other than, “thank you again and again.” It’s like we just won the lotto and not because of money, but because we have what we need and that includes peace. God bless you all for caring for my family.
