On Hope & Restoration: Personal Reflections from a Founding Member & The First ATW Mom

By Jane Reagan, Along The Way co-founder & former board member and Sara Sanders, former client & current Along The Way Case Manager

Jane: The growth happening at Along The Way is exciting to witness. We established our mission to provide community, acceptance and hope for women along life’s journey almost a decade ago in 2014, and just as the organization does today, we accomplished our mission by offering child care to single mothers during non-business hours in order for them to work and/or continue their schooling. 

Every new organization has its “firsts” and for Along The Way, after years of praying and planning, in-home child care services began in 2016, with Sara as our first client. Her journey with Along The Way began as a waitressing single mother on the receiving side of Along The Way support and now, several years later, she’s transitioned to the restoration side where she supports current single mother clients through similar struggles she once had.

Sara: The move from despair to restoration didn’t happen overnight. This happened after years of putting the work in to overcome mental and physical health challenges, taking self-responsibility, and surrendering my life to God. I think that one of the most remarkable parts of my journey was the personal support I received from co-founder, April Matt (who now serves as the Chief People Officer & Staff Trauma Expert), even when I no longer utilized child care services. April genuinely cared about me and my children; she showed up in my life with concrete support and no judgment. When I got back on my feet, it was really important to me that I gave back; I’d help in any way I could because this organization dramatically changed my life for the better. I spoke at events to infuse hope into other women, provided free family portrait sessions to struggling families through my photography business, and until I became a paid staff member, served on the board of directors. 

Jane: God’s faithful provision and plan is so evident throughout Sara’s story. I remember back in 2016/2017, praying for Sara and asking God to intervene and help her to heal. What God has done has been amazing. Sara is thriving! She is raising her boys, has financial stability and is now an employee of Along The Way. I had the pleasure of enjoying a visit with Sara and her extended family, and it was so clear to me that their story is one of God’s love and restoration.

As 2023 begins, I will continue to give to and pray for Along The Way as they provide support, resources and tools to enable the hope of new beginnings and the restoration that comes from authentic relationships–to a population for whom nothing comes easily. Single mothers are disproportionately impacted by poverty, but the human spirit is resilient; when people have the support they need, they heal, transforming deep suffering into a well of compassion for others, as we see with Sara. 

All of the work that has been done and that Along The Way continues to do, reminds me of two precepts that were core to our founding the organization:

“People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw anyone out.” (attributed to Audrey Hepburn) 

“But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. “(Isaiah 43:1-2) 

My heart and soul are full of thanksgiving for God’s gracious work in Sara’s life and for providing the excellent vision and leadership that now propel the mission of Along The Way.

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There are 300,000 “Sara’s” in Pennsylvania – single moms who are hard workers but don’t have the essential child care they need to support their family; if you or someone you know is one of them, make sure to let them know that Along The Way works with the best employers in Eastern PA to match unemployed & underemployed single mothers to jobs where leadership is committed to building a resilient and happy workforce. Through Along The Way’s Pathway Project, single moms receive job placement + child care to work + ongoing holistic support.

Not a single mom? Are we not yet in your area? 👉🏼 Sign Our Statement of Support, then text 10 of your family/friends and ask them to do the same! There’s strength in numbers!

Interested in working for us? We provide exceptional benefits including full medical, vision and dental insurance, 4 weeks of paid time off, ongoing paid professional development training, flexible scheduling, and a minimum wage of $20/hr. 

Find out the many ways you can get involved.