Forms of Assistance
We always attempt to meet any of our Moms’ needs that arise, such as transportation, baby sitting, grocery shopping etc; but these are our main 5 programs and we’d love your help.
Michelle's Kitchen
Several times a month we provide our Moms with nutritious, well-balanced pre-prepared meals for the family. Meals are purchased from a professional meal service and prepared by volunteers at regular Michelle’s Kitchen Meal Parties events calendar, typically held once a month. These are great events where a group of volunteers get together to help prepare the meals, guaranteeing health standards, high quality and having a little fun. Meals are prepared with the focus on nutrition and the needs of the mother and her children. This program reduces the financial and physical burden of cooking; it helps to keep the family eating healthily and provides an opportunity for an ‘at home family dinner’ that promotes quality time as a family. In addition, Christi Kirk, owner of a nutrition consulting business called Positive Health & Nutrition has produced a great hand out for our moms called Nutrition During Treatment.
Michelle's Pockets
We provide recurring financial assistance of $300 a month per family throughout the period of treatment; this helps to cover some bills like transportation, utilities, a contribution to rent/mortgage, household necessities and some medical co-pays. Financial obligations cause chronic stress to the lives of single mothers battling cancer. Often the mothers are physically unable to work while receiving treatment, and are suffering great financial hardship. This financial assistance helps to alleviate some of the stress that our Moms face, in turn allowing them to focus on their children and their recovery.
Michelle's Clean-up Crew
We all know that a clean home is important; it reduces ailments, stress and enforces a healthy lifestyle; what’s more it lifts a weight off of Moms’ shoulders. A clean home promotes family pride; it boosts morale and it shows a family that the community cares. Moms often are too weak from treatment to keep on top of family chores and children may be too young to help alone. Our Michelle’s Circle volunteers donate time, labor and often some ‘elbow grease’ to provide a thorough cleaning of a family’s home on an as needed basis, up to twice a month per family.
Michelle's Phonebook
We are constantly adding to a list of local businesses and professionals who are willing to provide special services to our Moms. These services may be free, or at a deeply discounted rate. Such services include Will, Trust and Estate Legal Services, Financial Consulting, Child Support Enforcement Services, Vision and Dental Care for mothers and children, discounts at stores and various other services. This referral network is a great benefit to the Moms and their children.
Singleton Kids
As our newest program Singleton Kids are given new and educational experiences that they might not otherwise encounter. Our annual trip to the Arizona Science Center allows these kids the opportunity to explore the world around them. While our fall art project gives them the time to express themselves as individuals. Most importantly, our "When I grow up" mentorship program lets these children dream big and find their true passion in life. Not only are they given the chance to look toward the future but are given the tools to learn how to get there.
If you are a single mother undergoing treatment for cancer and need our assistance, please read our Request our Services page to see if you qualify.
If you wish to get involved you can do so by making a donation to Michelle's Pockets or signing up to become part of Michelle's Circle.
Help us be able to support more single moms with cancer
Singleton Moms estimates there may be 5,000 single mothers in the Phoenix metropolitan area each year that undergo treatment for cancer, but there is no data to back this.
If you are a single mother with cancer who resides in the Phoenix metropolitan area, your participation in this survey will help us provide better support to those who need our services.
So please take 10 mins to answer this short survey! Thank you.
