Sabrina closed her eyes, trembling, waiting to see if the lights would stay on.

She never imagined life would come to this. A mother of two young boys, Sabrina worked full-time and did everything right to provide for her kids. Still, making ends meet felt impossible.

First came the divorce. Then the child support payments stopped. Then her father – the one person she could truly rely on – passed away.

Grief set in. So did fear about what this meant for her and the boys.

Sabrina picked up extra shifts at work. She stretched every dollar until there was nothing to stretch. But still, the bills piled up.

Each morning began with the same worry: Would today be the day the electricity was shut off? Cooking dinner in the dark – her boys reading bedtime stories by flashlight – suddenly felt all too real.

Life wasn’t supposed to be like this – not for a mother working this hard.

Sabrina had always been the one helping others, supporting friends through tough times. Never did she imagine she would be the one who had to ask for help.

What she discovered is something many of our clients come to learn: she didn’t have to face this alone. Hope came through an unexpected source: you.

When she first called Catholic Charities NH, our caseworker recalls the confidence in her voice. It was clear she would do anything for her children.

Our Community Services team sat with her to understand her situation. Together, we identified a local assistance program she was eligible for and reviewed her Section 8 housing application, a critical step toward long-term stability and safety.

We also helped her create a budget for the first time, so she could keep her bills paid while waiting for benefits.

And when food insecurity became a real concern, we provided her with grocery cards, giving her the flexibility to put food on the table and keep the electricity on.

Today, Sabrina still faces challenges. But she no longer wakes up paralyzed by fear.

Because of you, she knows she is not alone. Because of you, her children are safe. And because of you, a family that was on the brink is still standing – together.

This is what compassion looks like in action. This is what your support makes possible.