Maranda’s Story

When Maranda first met the Helpers she was a few months pregnant with her 3rd baby. She already had a young son and daughter. The children’s father pressured her to make an appointment for an abortion or he would make her life “a living hell.” Then, in a moment which may be be attributed to the daily prayers of many to end abortion, he told Maranda to “have an ultrasound first to see if everything is ok”. Once she saw her baby on the screen she couldn’t go through with the abortion!

Maranda turned to Facebook to ask if anyone knew where she could get help with diapers, food and finances. She doesn’t remember who referred her to HelpersNJ but she is grateful they did.

The Helpers have been with Maranda every step of the way “making sure that me and my 2 kids had food and toiletries and stuff for the baby once I had him”. Maranda said “they paid to fix my car so I could safely get to appointments…they paid my deposit when my kids’ father moved out and took his name off the lease…they gave us everything we needed for Thanksgiving dinner.”

Since Maranda reached out we have also been able to pay her car insurance, give her gas money and even get her older son a haircut when he asked for one. A generous couple who wanted to “adopt a family” for Christmas also provided a Christmas tree with decorations and a gift card for presents and a holiday meal for Maranda’s family. Of Helpers NJ she said “I have broken down in tears with them so many times because I am just so blown away by their generosity and how much they genuinely care about the people that they help. I wish I could personally thank all of the donors that have literally saved me and my kids from starvation and homelessness…you are amazing and my family is forever grateful.”

Joseph was born weighing 6lbs 12 oz. Maranda says his father loves and is proud of Joey but leaves Maranda to get up in the middle of the night telling her she’s the one who wanted to have the baby so it’s “on her”. When she gets overwhelmed he tells her this is “what he warned her about.” She still calls Mary Anne for needed emotional support. She tells us that her children are her motivation to keep going. Eventually she wants to go back to school and provide them the life they “deserve”. We have confidence in Maranda’s ability to succeed, but we know she has already given her children the most important things: life and love. We have encouraged her to take her children to church and to teach them that God loves them very much.

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live”. Deuteronomy 30:19