By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
A mother’s role is to take care of others, but sometimes it’s not that simple.
Joyce Lindenmuth, who was a HomeFront client, wanted to purchase hearing aids for her 15-year-old daughter, who is partially deaf. But there was no money in the family’s budget.
Until the family’s case manager tapped into HomeFront’s Mother’s Fund.
”I feel so grateful to have been able to give this gift to my daughter,” said Ms. Lindenmuth, who became a HomeFront client after she lost her house in a fire. “The joy I received from seeing her relief was the greatest Mother’s Day present I could ever have imagined.”
With Mother’s Day just days away, people can honor their own mothers and make a difference in the lives of HomeFront’s mothers by contributing to the Mother’s Fund maintained by the Lawrence-based nonprofit group. HomeFront helps the homeless and the working poor.
Donors can designate a mother, or another special woman in their lives, to receive a special Mother’s Day card that features the artwork by one of the homeless mothers from the group’s art program, said Connie Mercer, HomeFront’s executive director.
Money in the Mother’s Fund is used to provide for special items in a child’s life that are not in a family’s budget, Ms. Mercer said. It could be something as simple as taking the child to the movies, buying graduation flowers, a new pair of cleats to play sports, or even orthodontic care, she said.
Each HomeFront client has a case manager, who can tap into the Mother’s Fund to pay for something special for the family, Ms. Mercer said. It is a discretionary fund that is available to the case manager.
The Mother’s Fund grew out of Ms. Mercer’s own experience. She was able to do things with her son and provide for his needs, but his friend’s mother was not always able to do so. It occurred to Ms. Mercer that “it’s just not fair” to the family.
”Mothers care for others,” Ms. Mercer said. “It is part of the job. My mother taught me that. I can think of no better way to honor them than to take this opportunity to help others.”
Donations can be made and Mother’s Day cards ordered at HomeFront’s website at www.homefrontnj.org or by calling 609-989-9417, ext. 107.
