It all started in a living room in January of 2007. After years of struggling as a single mom and then climbing the corporate ladder at a Fortune 500 bank, Jennifer Maggio felt a calling she couldn’t ignore.

Gathering with just three single moms, the regular meetings, which started as a Bible study, slowly evolved. Attendance increased. Conversations deepened. And the need for more resources and more outreach slowly became clear.

“Faith is the catalyst for everything,” Jennifer says. “And my belief has and always will be that if God calls us, he will provide.”

With that as her guiding principle, Jennifer formally established The Life of a Single Mom as a nonprofit in 2011 with the goal of walking alongside single moms not just in Louisiana but nationwide. The increased scale of the organization didn’t change the starting point, though. Jennifer took her model of small group meetings and brought it to churches throughout the local area and beyond, with this still operating as the foundation of TLSM ministries.

“Having a community is everything,” says Jennifer’s daughter, Ashton Maggio, who now works with TLSM as its Relationship and Program Manager. “Just having someone who is there to talk and who understands what you’re going through is invaluable.”

These group meetings allow single moms to create a reliable and supportive network close to home. It takes a village, after all. And through these group connections, which are carried online through private Facebook groups set up through TLSM, moms are able to ask for help, recommendations and a listening ear when they need it most.

Over the years, The Life of a Single Mom’s programming has expanded with the needs of the women they serve. Since 2017, the group has offered Single Mom University online, which provides extensive and informative courses on everything from parenting to finances to health and wellness.

“I can’t think of a topic that isn’t in there,” Jennifer says, noting that 200 classes were added this year to the online bank of nearly 25,000. “We want to be there to provide whatever a mom might need in order to heal and thrive with her children.”

“Stabilizing a single mother does everything for the future of our city.”

– Jennifer Maggio

To date, TLSM has served over one million single moms nationally. Louisiana leads the nation per capita in single-mother-led homes, so much of the group’s work stays close to home.

“We really are at ground zero here in Louisiana,” Jennifer says. “There’s a stereotype that these are nonworking people just looking for a handout, and that isn’t true at all. In many cases, these are working single moms who often have two jobs and are educated. They’re working really hard to provide.”

Plastered across the TLSM website are striking statistics that back up the importance of TLSM’s mission. Single mothers are seven times more likely to live in poverty than those who are married. 90% of all homeless and runaway children come from single-parent homes. Children from fatherless households are 20 times more likely to be incarcerated. 71% of children from fatherless homes drop out of high school. The list goes on.

“Stabilizing a single mother does everything for the future of our city,” Jennifer says. “Every major issue stems from it, and we are addressing the root cause.”

With a full-time staff of just six, the TLSM team is operated by women and for women, with single moms acting as the main volunteers. And with the group’s origins, starting from a small support group back in 2007, it makes sense that way. Jennifer and her team have proven that providing services on a large scale doesn’t mean impersonality takes hold. Instead, it offers an opportunity to connect on a greater level and raise up even more women.

“Relationship building is at the center of all we do,” Jennifer says. “We are truly listening, and because of that, we have our finger on the pulse of the nation. We can see the commonalities, and we’re not just talking about how bad it is. We leave the table with actionable solutions. We are teaching women how to heal, and from there, everything improves.”

More from the The Life of a Single Mom team:

Why is the mission of The Life of a Single Mom important to you?

“I am so grateful for this organization because it does more than just state a mission. It actively lives it out. The phrase, ‘no single mom walks alone,’ is not just a powerful promise; it’s a practice that has truly uplifted me. TLSM has walked with me through every stage of the journey, providing invaluable support and skills that touch on every part of your well-being: physical, financial, emotional and spiritual. Most importantly, it reminded me that I am never alone, offering a community that combats the isolation that single parenting can so often bring.” – LaChandra Harris, volunteer for over 10 years

How has the work of The Life of a Single Mom made a difference in our community?

“The Life of a Single Mom has transformed our community in ways that go far beyond providing basic support. Yes, meeting financial needs is important. But equally important is offering hope to the hopeless. At the heart of everything we do is one goal: that no single mom walks alone. Many of the moms in our communities don’t have access to the kind of support system so many of us take for granted. They’re without family nearby, without friends they can lean on, and often without a safe place to say, ‘I’m not OK.’ Through our support groups, moms are able to connect with others who truly understand their struggles–but TLSM takes it a step further. It’s not just about sitting in the pain. It’s about rising from it. We’re equipping these women with real-life tools and skills to not only change their own situations, but to pass that strength, resilience and knowledge on to their children because the impact of single motherhood doesn’t stop at one generation.” – Kedra Preston, branding and communications manager

If there’s one thing you could tell someone considering volunteering, what would it be?

“Do it! What do you have to lose? You never know what a difference your contribution can make to a mom and her kids. When I first got invited by a friend to TLSM’s fundraising luncheon years ago, I felt called by the mission. Volunteering with the organization has changed me in so many ways. It has educated me on single mothers and the complexities. These women come from all walks of life, and I see the beauty of God’s redemption through their stories. This year, TLSM will have served more than 1 million mothers. I had no idea my work would spread throughout the country, and it has been amazing and so enriching to my life to be a part of this mission.” – Debbie Spano, volunteer and board member

For more information and to learn how to volunteer, visit thelifeofasinglemom.com.