The Single Mom KC: A Ministry of Hospitality

Kelly moved to Kansas to pursue her master’s degree, but her plan changed when she became pregnant a year and a half later. She found herself a single mother. Her life was impacted for the better when she met Misty of The Single Mom KC through her church small group:

“The Single MOM KC has provided me with opportunities to not only grow as a mom but also as a person and develop as a leader. It has granted me the support, the knowledge and the tools to do so. It has surrounded me with a great community built on genuine relationships and great connections, and most importantly a common desire to serve with a passion to demonstrate the love of Jesus to others.”

The Single Mom KC was founded to bring hope to the 60,000+ single mother families in Kansas City metro, just like Kelly’s, through a ministry of hospitality. We exist to see the negative statistics surrounding single mother families changed and to see these families flourish with a renewed sense of vision, purpose and joy. We work toward this goal in several ways.

Community
We offer safe, welcoming spaces for mothers to connect with other mothers and mentors who have walked through similar circumstances. We do this through small groups, monthly dinners, regional events and various ministries across the KC-metro.

Education
We offer education for the surrounding communities on how to effectively support and promote strong single mother families in their area. We also offer practical training for single mothers, including financial management classes, mentorships and life coaching.

Provision
Sometimes single mothers don’t have the time or resources to meet the myriad needs they suddenly must fill as a single parent. We aim to help ease this process with our furniture provision ministry and the free Clothed with Dignity boutique. We receive donated furnishings, clothing, purses, jewelry, cosmetics, perfumes, shoes and more. We connect moms to furnishings they need as the furniture comes available.

We also open Clothed with Dignity to single moms several times a month to help provide clothes for job interviews, special events or just to help support everyday needs. Featuring fresh décor, a lavish fitting room, and a playroom for children, the shop was designed to offer a beautiful boutique experience that each mother deserves.

After connecting with The Single Mom KC and the resources we provide, Kelly recounts how she started to serve in a greater capacity in her community. “I started to lead in several areas in my church and my community. I can say that I am a better friend, sister, mother, neighbor and overall human being because of The Single MOM KC’s generosity and outpouring. I am forever grateful for the impact they have had on my life and the lives of those they are helping.” Every day, The Single Mom KC strives to help bring about similarly life-giving transformations for single mother families across Kansas City. ■

Single mom statistics
• Children living in female-headed families with no spouse present had a poverty rate of 47.6 percent, over 4 times the rate in married-couple families.
• Children from fatherless homes are more than twice as likely to commit suicide.
• 71% of high school dropouts are fatherless
• 70% of teen pregnancies are from homes where there is no father present

Written by: Misty Honnold