United Way of Greater Kansas City in partnership with Women United, recently hosted the 5th annual Purses for Promise event, presented by Black & Veatch. The purse-based silent auction, wine pull and networking event raises funds for United Way early learning programs, including supporting this year’s designated beneficiary: Growing Futures Early Education Center in Overland Park, Kan.
A highlight of the evening each year is hearing the personal impact of early learning programs on our community. This year, Olathe mother Quentella Neal shared her story about how Growing Futures has helped her stepped into becoming a first-time mother. Her message is below:
My whole world has been turned upside down over the past year, thanks to my beautiful daughter Evangeline, who just turned eight months old.
While she wasn’t something I planned for, my daughter has been a blessing to me and to my family. My parents have been incredibly supportive, as well as my friends. But early on, I knew this was not going to be an easy journey. Evangeline’s father is absent. I didn’t know how I was going to become a mother—let alone a single mom.
But I’m not doing it alone.
I first got connected to growing futures through my best friend Madison, who is also in the program. Growing Futures knows the earliest years of life shape everything that follows. They stand beside families and children from pregnancy through preschool, with home-based programs and a Head Start center.
Support from Growing Gutures has meant the world to me—from when I was pregnant, then going through postpartum depression and anxiety. It was all really tough.
Now, I’m learning all the critical milestones of having a little one. This is my first rodeo! My first child. I’m a single mother, trying to figure all this out, one day at a time.
My family educator Brittnie has been with me every step of the way. She helped me open up about my struggles and work through them. She’s helped me set and accomplish goals. We’re working toward even bigger ones now—for both me and my daughter.
When it comes to my daughter, Brittnie’s helped me really understand the developmental stages she should be at and the activities I can do with her, when she can eat different foods and what to expect as she grows and changes.
I never expected to be a single mom. I always wanted to get married, then have children. But God had other plans and blessed be with little miss Evangeline. Growing Futures has been nothing but supportive and nonjudgmental about my situation. Any time I need support, they are there for me.
It means so much to me that all of you are here–women supporting women. (okay and maybe a few guys too!) By supporting United Way and Growing Futures, you’re recognizing the daily struggles of moms in our community and saying, “We are with you.”
When a single mom like me is just having a really rough day and my family educator, Brittnie, comes to the door with your favorite Starbucks drink, it makes you feel supported. When you need extra diapers or wipes to make it through the month, Growing Futures makes sure you get them. It makes you feel loved. When your pump breaks and. You’ve got to get to work, and Brittnie comes by to make sure I have what I need, you feel like everything is going to be okay. That you matter.
And when you and your family educator see your baby girl playing with bubbles for the first time…it’s those small moments that make a big impact to feel genuinely cared for and to feel seen.
When I think about my life now, compared to a year ago before Growing Futures, I feel so much more at peace and loved. I have joy and so much thankfulness.
Being a mother is hard. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world at the end of the day. It’s the toughest and best job I’ve had in my entire life. I love my daughter so much. And I’m so grateful for the support from my family–and that includes my Growing Futures family, and by extension my United Way family.
By showing your support through Purses for Promise, you’re making a difference. If it’s buying a purse, jewelry or some adorable art from kids at Growing Futures, please know it is appreciated. You’re investing in our kids—the future of our community. It’s important in a child’s life to feel that support. You’re helping my daughter and I build a life and future full of promise. Thank you so much.
If you missed this year’s Purses for Promise event, but would still like to donate and support, you can do so here. To learn more about Growing Futures or get involved in volunteering with them, visit here.