BROCKTON, MA – As a sea of green swept across the ballroom of Venue 727, guests gathered with gratitude for the work of local non-profit Victory For Families. Established In 2022 by CEO Veronica Thompson, the organization aims to “empower single mothers by providing them with the necessary resources and support to achieve housing stability, pursue education and career opportunities, and attain financial security.”
“Being single mom, we apply to a lot of organizations and stuff and I get a lot of applications and they tell me to fill it out and then – you don’t qualify,” explains Tracy Ramos, an active member of the organization. “I’ll say, ‘Why don’t I qualify?’ and find out I just barely make too much. (But) the shelter, the clothing, daycare – all that it costs a lot of money.”
The high-energy event featured a shopping boutiques to support small businesses, an engaging photo booth, mocktail bar (with the ability to spice it up!) by The Rose Bar Experience and mouthwatering catering by The Hut Island Vybes to host speakers such as author and spoken word artist Nahomie St. Louis.
Sharing her own experience becoming a single mother at 22 years old, Advisory Board Member Elsa Franco explained the barriers single mothers are facing and how VFF is working to fill the gaps. “Even though I was in a corporate space and making what some would consider decent money – I wasn’t making enough to do it all on my own,” says Franco. “I was still living paycheck to paycheck and didn’t qualify for financial assistance because I always somehow someway made a few dollars more than what the system would allow.”
From offering a community for single mothers to connect and have a voice to courses that provide financial literacy, credit counseling, resources and assistance in securing childcare and housing, VFF has become a highly praised haven for mothers navigating parenthood alone. “Nobody signs up to be a single mom, but we’re doing it and to know there’s resources that are helping people finally,” says Brittney. “It’s great to have the social group, but at the same time you are faced with financial problems, you’re faced with just real hard things that I wouldn’t wish on anybody.”
Described by Ramos as a platform for mothers to feel they have a voice, Board Members and attendees shared their heartfelt thanks for Victory for Families. “I felt like I could finally felt like I could come to a space that understood what my struggles were and was going to help me,” explained Brittney, a thought echoed by Franco. “When you’re going through it, you don’t know how bad it is. Sometimes you don’t know how bad it is until you’re on the other side,” said Franco. “This is what I needed.”
To learn more about Victory For Families, visit their website.
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Emmalyn Reid 