Story by Blaine McCarty,
NFCC's Marketing & Communications Manager
Among the 1,115 children and 507 families served this year, one story stood out to me.
I met Jorda (name changed for privacy) as she struggled to carry six backpacks. I offered to help, and she lit up with gratitude. While waiting for her ride, we sat and talked. She was warm, open, and easy to connect with.
Jorda immigrated to Georgia from Ethiopia at 18. Now in her mid-40s, she is a single mother to 7 children – 3 biological and 4 adopted – ranging from ages 7 to 20.
“I always dreamed of having a big family,” she said. “I just didn’t know it would come to me this way.”
Though she’s grateful to have her children home, summer has been financially tough. “They’re eating me out of house and home,” she laughed. Thanks to NFCC’s Food Pantry, she’s able to stretch her groceries and keep her kids fed.
She first discovered NFCC through our Thrift Shop, where she picked up a “Need Help” card. Since then, our programs have helped her navigate the challenges of parenting, navigating employment, and healing. This Back to School event, she added saved her over $1,000. That was money she simply didn’t have.
Jorda’s journey through motherhood is extraordinary. When her cousin could no longer care for her children due to mental health challenges, and their father passed away unexpectedly, Jorda stepped in. She fought for guardianship, even appealing to federal authorities, and eventually brought all 7 children under one roof. A hard-won battle. Today, they are thriving.
Before she left, Jorda showed me a video of her children singing “Happy Father’s Day” to her. She laughed as she watched, her pride shining through. I asked where her joy comes from. She looked at me and said, “My hope is a shield. I believe nothing will conquer me if I hold onto the love I have.”
That moment stayed with me.
What I learned at my first Back to School event is that NFCC matters for reasons as varied as the people we serve. Need doesn’t look one way and doesn’t follow a script. Meeting her reminded me that the work we do at NFCC is not just about services; it’s about standing beside people in their most vulnerable moments and helping them reclaim their power.
There are many stories like Jorda’s. Stories that begin in crisis but, with the right support, turn struggle into strength. This is why NFCC Is growing.
Thank you, Jorda, for sharing your story. And thank you to everyone who helps NFCC grow to meet the need.
