‘The holidays are really hard but Catholic Charities makes a difference:’ Peabody Child Care Helps Single Mom Find Stability

When Patricia first enrolled her daughter at the Peabody Child Care Center five years ago, she never imagined how important the program would come to be for her family.

As a young working mom, Patricia said she was drawn to the affordable nature of the program and to the vibrant staff who immediately made her and her daughter feel at ease.

“From the moment we toured the center, before my daughter had even joined, we loved it. I was able to meet the teachers, and they were so kind and caring,” she said. “It’s more than childcare – they really want the kids to grow and succeed.”

That sense of care and stability became the foundation Patricia needed. Enrolling her daughter – and later, her two sons – at the Peabody Child Care Center also allowed her to pick up more shifts as a pharmaceutical technician, helping her to better support her family. Moreover, she said the free transportation that the program provided to and from the center was instrumental, helping her to save money she otherwise would have spent on public transportation or Ubers.

While her children are now ages 10, 9, and 6, they continue to spend every day after school at the Peabody Child Care Center’s Out of School Time program, which offers arts and crafts, field trips, homework assistance, community projects, outdoor activities, music, and more to children ages 5-13.

“They really like going because they have time to be with friends and are in such a positive environment where they are learning and feel safe,” she said.

Above all, Patricia said this is the greatest gift the Peabody Child Care Center has offered her family – the knowledge that her children are safe, are in good hands, and are learning and growing every day.

Currently, Patricia is a full-time student at North Shore Community College, where she is training to become a radiology technician in order to advance her career. Without having her previous income, however, Patricia said she is feeling the strain of rising costs every day, especially as the holiday season approaches.

Thanks to the Peabody Child Care Center staff, who organize toy donations for families every year, Patricia said she knows she and her children will still have a wonderful holiday.

“Every year, the teachers hand out forms with requests for toys, and each kid has a bag made for them before Christmas,” she said. “As a single mom, the holidays are really hard, but Catholic Charities makes an enormous difference.”

To find out how you can support Catholic Charities Boston’s clients in need this holiday season, visit our Hope for the Holidays page.