The Light that Beckons Us

Approximately one in five single-mother families in the United States lives below the federal poverty line.

Families led by single mothers face the greatest economic vulnerability in the United States. More than one in five single-mother families live below the federal poverty line, roughly double the rate of single-father families and more than five times the rate of married-couple families.

They don't have reliable transportation, can't afford proper medical care, and are one unexpected expense from complete financial collapse. Things don't seem to get worse.

Most distressing of all, any of semplence of peace and direction has been stolen from these mothers by situations that may not have had anything to do with anything they could have controlled. They may have made some bad decisions in her life, but she still needs our empathy and our prayers.

There is a light that beckons each of us to fulfill our purpose in life. It is part of the human condition and it beckons us, igniting our internal urges to respond. We're born with it.

When we hear the stories that we hear at Bottoms Up, our first reaction is to scratch our heads. Then, in a second, our reaction turns to empathy and sorrow for the life these mothers live. Last week, for instance we heard of a mother that used a dish towel, secured by duct tape, as a substitute for the diaper she couldn't afford.

It's heart breaking.

The question is: what is the light within you pointing toward? Can you afford to help Bottoms Up take some of the pressure off these mothers? Can we afford not to?

Follow the light. Love those among us that have nobody else.

Reasons single mothers are likely to live below the poverty line



One income supporting an entire household. There is no second wage earner to share housing, utilities, food, transportation, and other expenses.

Childcare costs. Affordable, dependable childcare can be difficult to find, and its cost can consume a large portion of a mother’s earnings.

Lower wages. Many single mothers work in lower-paying service, caregiving, retail, hospitality, and administrative jobs.

Limited ability to work additional hours. Overtime, evening shifts, second jobs, and weekend work may be impossible without someone to care for the children.

Housing costs. Rent can consume an enormous percentage of a low-income household’s budget, leaving little for other necessities.

Transportation barriers. A broken-down car, expensive repairs, insurance, gasoline, or inadequate public transportation can threaten both employment and childcare arrangements.

Interrupted education or career advancement. Parenting responsibilities can make completing college, job training, or professional certification much harder.

Little or no financial cushion. A $500 car repair, medical bill, missed week of work, or unexpected school expense can become a genuine financial crisis.

Inadequate or inconsistent child support. Some mothers receive little or no financial assistance from the child’s other parent, or payments may be unpredictable.

The high cost of raising children. Food, clothing, healthcare, school supplies, childcare, and diapers are necessities, not luxuries. When income is already stretched thin, even relatively small recurring expenses can force impossible choices.

Bottoms Up is a non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

EIN# 83-2456290