Ten years ago, I set out on a journey without knowing exactly where it would lead. When I started Moms for Moms in 2014, it began as a small pay-it-forward initiative to support single mothers in New York City. Today, it has become a lifeline for thousands of women facing some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to empower single mothers by providing critical postpartum and newborn essentials to lessen the stress of living in poverty.
Becoming a mother is one of the most vulnerable and critical times in a woman’s life, but for many single mothers, this journey is marked by overwhelming economic challenges. In New York City, three out of four single mothers live in poverty – and the poverty rate for these mothers is nearly five times higher than that of married couples. The average income for a single mother here is roughly $40,000 annually, but the cost of raising a newborn can easily reach $20,000 in the first year alone. That means half of a single mother’s income is consumed by essential expenses, leaving little to cover rent, utilities or food.
For mothers living in abusive, homeless or low-income situations, access to newborn and postpartum essentials is often not readily available. This need became the driving force behind Moms for Moms, where we provide Newborn Baby Bundles and Postpartum Recovery Kits. These packages include diapers, wipes, bottles, clothing, hygiene items and other essentials not covered by federal and state public assistance programs. By addressing this critical gap, we aim to alleviate some of the stress and financial burden motherhood brings, allowing the mothers we serve to begin their journey with pride and dignity.
Over the past decade, we have supported over 5,000 single mothers with over 1 million postpartum and newborn essentials across New York City’s five boroughs. The stories we hear from the mothers we serve are a testament to the profound impact of our work. One mother recently shared her experience with Moms for Moms, saying, “Some of us moms are going through so much emotionally and financially, feeling like no one cares for us but Moms for Moms care and they work tirelessly to pack and prepare these big bags of supplies for the mom and baby. I’m so grateful and thankful. I absolutely love what you all are doing. It’s such a great way to show support to expecting and new moms during these hard times. Thank you all so much at Moms for Moms.” These testimonials remind us why we do what we do and inspire us to keep pushing forward.
Our impact has been possible thanks to the unwavering support of our community, partners and donors. Organizations like WIN, Sanctuary for Families, Children’s Aid, Wyckoff Hospital, and others more have been crucial in helping us extend our reach to those most in need. This year, we celebrated our tenth anniversary with the “Celebrating TEN Years of Making an Impact” campaign. It has been heartening to see the outpouring of support from volunteers, donors, and corporate sponsors like the Texel Group, Benefit Street Partners and Meta. This generosity has not only fueled our current initiatives, but also set the stage for our future growth.
As we look to the future, we are more determined than ever to expand our impact. We envision a New York City where every mother, regardless of her circumstances, has access to the essentials she needs to care for her newborn and herself. I truly believe it takes a village to support a mother, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has been a part of our village over the past ten years. The challenges mothers often face are significant, but so is the strength of our community. As we move into our next decade of service, I am filled with hope and excitement. We will keep doing what we can to be a vital part of that village, ensuring that no mother has to face the challenges of motherhood alone. Here’s to the next ten years of impact, growth and change.
Danielle Krupa is the founder and executive director of Moms for Moms NYC, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that supports single mothers.
