‘You’re safe here. It will be okay.”

Diane whispered those words to her grandson, Sebastian, as tears streamed down his face.

The five-year-old kept asking where his parents were.

Diane, his grandmother, already knew the answer.

They weren’t coming home that night – or anytime soon.

Diane held him close. She didn’t have all the answers in that moment, but she knew one thing.

Sebastian and his younger sister, Ava, would not have to face tomorrow alone.

She would do everything she could to make sure they always had a place where they felt safe, loved and wanted.

Love Stepped In

In New Hampshire, more than 6,000 grandparents are raising their grandchildren because their parents are unable to care for them, often due to substance use disorder, mental illness, incarceration or other challenges.

Diane, a widower, is one of them.

Addiction tore her family apart. Her son, Sebastian and Ava’s father, and his wife left without notice, essentially abandoning the kids.

Diane stepped in without hesitation. Sebastian and Ava needed a safe, familiar place to stay and someone they could count on. She became both.

Doing It Alone Came at a Cost

Life had been comfortable for Diane, who spent years as a schoolteacher. Even after her husband passed away, she always found a way to make ends meet.

But now, there were two growing children to feed, clothe and care for. Every trip to the grocery store became more expensive, and every dollar had to stretch a little further.

Then things too another turn when her son came home, asking for help getting back on his feet.

Diane believed him. She gave him the money she had carefully saved.

Then he disappeared again.

Suddenly, Diane had almost nothing left.

Soon she found herself three months behind on her mortgage. With nearly $4,800 owed, foreclosure became a frightening possibility. The foreclosure notice sat unopened on the

kitchen counter while crayons covered the other end of the table.

Past-due utility bills only added to the burden, and the payment plans were more than she could afford.

Every day, Diane worried about the same question: How do I keep a roof over my grandchildren’s heads? And how did it come to this?

Compassion Answered the Call

Diane had heard about Catholic Charities through her local church. Never did she think she would be the one reaching out for help.

But she had to do it for the kids.

She connected with our Community Services team. One of our case managers immediately helped secure assistance to cover part of Diane’s overdue electric bill, preventing her service from being shut off.

Together, they reviewed Diane’s budget, found ways to reduce monthly expenses, and connected her with community partners that could help with her mortgage and other essential bills.

For the first time in weeks, Diane felt like she could finally breathe again.

Diane No Longer Has to Face It Alone

Diane still doesn’t know exactly what tomorrow will bring.

But today, Sebastian and Ava are home.

The lights remain on. Sebastian and Ava can eat dinner around the kitchen table, cool off with a fan on hot summer evenings and fall asleep with the nightlight that helps Sebastian feel safe.

Through it all, their grandmother is beside them.

And because of compassionate people like you, a promise made in one of the hardest moments of Diane’s life is still being kept.