Tanesha’s Village

Tanesha has a 4-year-old son and a baby girl. Before her daughter was born, she did the best she could to take care of her toddler. But her life was tough. Her job didn’t provide enough income to pay for day care, a place to live and food. It was incredibly stressful, always living on the edge.

Unable to make it on her own anymore, this hardworking mother was fast running out of options. She faced a single mom’s worst nightmare: eviction and homelessness.

Tanesha needed help desperately. But she never imagined the kind of care and support she would find at Raleigh Rescue Mission.

The Mission’s W.E. Mangum Children’s Development Center provides a safe, Christian environment for children 2½ to 5 years old. They have fun learning and growing. And the age-appropriate curriculum is presented in creative and challenging ways that encourage kids to engage and participate.

We enrolled Tanesha’s son. He gravitated toward the dramatic play learning station and made Mom very proud when he learned to write his name. She was so excited by his growth.

Tanesha’s gave birth to a baby girl while at the Mission but when her little girl was just three months old, she got sick. Once again, our caring staff stood by the family through a difficult time. The Mission also helped provide the medical care needed.

Tanesha is so grateful for everything Raleigh Rescue Mission has provided for her children. But it’s not just the care they’ve given her children. The love and compassion she’s seen in staff and volunteers have given her a new outlook. Talking about the wonderful things the Mission has done for her family, she quoted the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Then she added, “This is my village.”