Hope for Holland

Meet Holland and her three sweet children.  They are homeless and stuck in the cycle of poverty here in the Charlotte area.  Most recently, they were all living in a 1-bedroom home with two other adults.  They had to sleep on the floor because bed bugs were so bad. The old oven was their only source of heat. They recently lost even this shelter.

If you had the opportunity to speak with Holland, you would immediately know there is something special about her.  She has the fight, love, and determination to give her children a better life.  A way of life her children can only dream of:  Not having to ration food each meal to survive.  Not having to decide between sleeping in a bed-bug infested home vs. having no shelter.  And most of all – simply hope.  Hope for a better future.  Hope for love.  Compassion. Humanity.

Back to Holland’s love and determination – She has a strong work ethic and wants to provide for her family on her own.  To be self-sustainable.  While already working one job, she took a second job - only to find the additional wages caused her to lose the food stamps she and her children so desperately needed.  Essentially, the way welfare is structured today, hard-working mothers like Holland are unintentionally penalized when they try to provide for their families, as any incremental increase in income appears to disproportionately decrease the benefits provided.

That said, Holland wants to provide for her family.  As the old saying goes – she doesn’t want to be handed a fish; She wants to be taught how to fish. 

Holland is currently working at a local grocery store, but that is not enough.  Holland realizes that the only way to break the cycle of poverty will be through education.  Only then can she obtain a job where she will be able to provide for her three children as a single mother without government assistance. 

The Paul-d charity exists to partner with young mothers like Holland.  As Holland continues to work, providing the best she can for her family, our goal is to fund her education at the local community college where she is currently in her second semester.  Additionally, for her to be successful in school, Holland needs childcare for her children, transportation to and from classes, a place for her family to live, and of course, food to eat each day.

Specifically, our goal is to raise $77,000 to help cover:

-          Holland’s tuition for the next two years

-          Rent for Holland and her three children while she is in school

-          Food, clothes, medicine, & childcare

Charlotte Community:  Here is your chance.  As you may have read, Charlotte was ranked 50th out of 50 cities for economic mobility by researchers at Harvard University and UC Berkeley.  From a grass-roots level, providing Holland support will not only allow her to provide for her children – It will give her children the opportunity to obtain the education and community support they need to excel on their own.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read Holland’s story.  Through your help, we can equip this determined mother with the tools she needs to provide for her sweet family.

Please like, share, and consider contributing to her cause!

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,  I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me,  I was sick and you looked after me,  I was in prison and you came to visit  me...   

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."   

​- Matthew 25: 35-36, 40

Paul deMontesquiou Charity, Inc. is a NC non-profit corporation . EIN #47-3085881