From volunteer to victory
Single mother finds hope in the place where she once served other moms
Divorced and left to care for six children, Reynelda McDonald was working two jobs. When the day was over, she’d find herself alone, praying for one more night with a roof over their heads and enough gas in her car to get to work. She was over 3,000 miles from family in Alaska, and she was losing hope. She wondered how one woman alone could save her family.
Yet she remained determined to provide a secure life for her children. But even with two jobs, she struggled to make ends meet.
Then McDonald remembered a program that a friend had once told her about when McDonald was still married. It was a place where McDonald had previously conducted a Bible study, along with providing volunteer child care. It is called Buckner Family Pathways®, a program designed to support single parents and their families as they overcome barriers that prevent self-sufficiency like education and career prospects. The program includes safe housing, educational support, and a community of care.
McDonald’s application and acceptance into Family Pathways marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life. “The kids felt safe, and I could breathe financially,” she said. “They didn’t have to worry about what could happen next.”
Through the program, McDonald is pursuing a degree in social work while still providing for her children. One of the most rewarding aspects of her time at Family Pathways has been seeing her children thrive.
“They have a sense of safety now,” McDonald shared. “And that’s something they didn’t have before.”
McDonald’s journey is far from over. When asked about her plans for the future, she’s quick to reject the notion.
“My life has been built on plans. The plans are what held me up. I know that God has one and I’m going to trust in that,” she said with conviction.
Daughter Tamia has found inspiration in her mother’s resilience. “If she can do it, anybody can do it,” she smiled, expressing her desire to go to nursing school and work as a Certified Nursing Assistant in the short term.
Be inspired by stories of generational transformation in the latest issue Buckner Today.
