Mary was a single mom of several young children.
She worked long minutes to make ends meet plus supply for her family.
One day, her HVAC system broke down. She was left with no heat in the whole winter. Mary knew she had to get it fixed although she did not have the money to pay for it. Desperate to keep her family warm, Mary started searching for HVAC services. She called several companies but their quotes were too high. Mary was at her wit’s end, and just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse, she received an unexpected bill from the hospital for her daughter’s recent surgery. Mary was crushed. She had to choose between paying for her daughter’s medical bills or fixing the HVAC system. Mary had no option but to prioritize her daughter’s health and put off the maintenance work. Those winter weeks were brutal for Mary and her children. They huddled together under blankets, plus Mary could see the pain in her children’s eyes. They were cold, sad and angry. Mary felt helpless and frustrated. Despite her best efforts, Mary could not keep up with her bills. She fell behind on her rent, and her vehicle payments, and eventually, she and her children were evicted from their home. Mary’s heart was broken as she watched her children cry, wondering where they would sleep that night. Mary’s story is a tragic one – and it’s not uncommon. How many hard-working single parents are out there who struggle to make ends meet? One unexpected expense can be the tipping point that sends them over the edge.