New Beginnings

One short year ago, Maria was living in a shelter with her three young children after fleeing a dangerous situation with nothing but her determination to give her children a better life. She was also pregnant with twins.

She connected with Allies during a self-described “very low moment” when she had nowhere else to turn. “I felt very alone, and helpless and powerless and just small,” Maria said. “Allies was definitely a saving grace during a really dark time in my life. Allies welcomed my family with open arms and jumped right in to see what resources we needed and how they could help jumpstart us.”

Allies immediately got to work providing wraparound services for the whole family – getting her older children enrolled in early education services, providing basic essentials (groceries, diapers, wipes, cleaning supplies, and home goods), and supporting Maria with being a single mom to five kids after the twins were born.

Her children loved exploring new things at Allies, and excelled in their classrooms with their teachers and new friends. Maria started therapy with the Allies’ mental health team to work through the trauma she endured while seeking a new life for her children. She became an active member of the Allies community, joining different workshops and groups available to Allies parents. She worked hard to ensure her children had the routines, structure, and stability that all kids need to thrive. And she worked on herself to heal from the past.

With the support of Allies, Maria had the resources she needed to become the best version of herself. Fast forward to this year, Maria is a student at UCLA working towards becoming a medical assistant. She and the kids are living together in their own apartment and have their own car. And the kids are enjoying the childhoods they deserve. “Look where we were a year ago and how far we’ve come now,” she said. “Our lives have definitely changed for the better. It’s a privilege to be part of the Allies family. It’s been a safe place for us where we feel seen, heard, and welcomed.”

This holiday season, your gift to Allies will lend a hand to more families just like this one, and create new beginnings for more children. It helps make Allies’ transformative year-round work possible, which prepares children and families for a better, brighter 2024.