
No parent should have to choose between paying the bills and putting food on the table.
But for thousands of single parents across Canada—80% of them women*—this is a daily reality. They work tirelessly, sacrifice sleep and personal needs, and carry the weight of their children’s well-being alone. Every missed paycheck, every unexpected bill, every empty fridge is a moment of fear and worry.
Right now, single parents are facing the highest degree of hardship across Canada, with 40% unable to meet their basic needs.**
Your local giving can be the lifeline that turns their despair into relief, their struggle into dignity, and their worry into hope.
Single mothers earn 19% less per hour than mothers in two-parent homes — a gap that has barely changed in nearly three decades.
(Statistics Canada)
80% single parent families in Canada are led by women.
(Statistics Canada)
44% of single parents skip meals so their children can eat.
(Salvation Army)
1 in 8 applications at NZF are from single parent households.
150,000 childrenare living in foster homes, institutional settings, or with extended familyas a result ofabuse, neglect, or abandonment. (2016 Census)
Even when they work, the odds remain stacked against them. Single mothers earn 19% less per hour than mothers in two-parent homes — a gap that has barely changed in nearly three decades. (Statistics Canada)
A child in a single-parent home faces nearly four
times the risk of poverty
than children in two-parent homes. And when that parent is a mother — especially an immigrant mother — the rate of poverty rises to 26.5%, the highest in the country. (Statistics Canada)
Fahad was barely ten years old when his father walked out on his family, leaving behind a wife and three young sons. Overnight, their childhood disappeared.
Their mother, Salma, did not speak English, had no work permit, and was ineligible for childcare benefits. With the little government support they received, she had to choose between paying for food or rent.
Basic needs like food, clothing, and utilities became a constant worry.
Fahad’s older brother couldn’t bear to see his younger brothers hungry, so he dropped out of school to help provide for the family.
Desperate for help, Salma reached out to NZF Canada. With your support, we were able to provide the family with essentials: school clothes for the children, nutritious food, help with rent and utilities, and emotional support. Slowly, life began to feel a little more stable.
Often, Fahad would help his mother communicate with us, sometimes sharing his small dreams for the future. “I wish I had a bike,” he once wrote. While we cannot fulfill every dream, together we can make sure children like Fahad have the essentials to survive, grow, and hope for a brighter tomorrow.

When Samah suffered a spinal stroke after giving birth, life changed overnight. The road to recovery was long, her insurance didn’t cover all her medical needs, and even everyday tasks became overwhelming.
As a single mother, Samah carried the full responsibility of providing for her children. She chose to share her story to highlight the importance of local giving and the difference it can make for mothers navigating similar challenges.
Because of your support, Samah was able to provide her two children with stability and meet their essential needs.
The impact went far beyond material support. “It just gave me a second to sit and breathe, not stress. They didn't feel like anything was missing.”
Help another single mother stand strong with dignity and confidence.
Donate today to provide mothers and their families with hope, stability, and the essentials they need to thrive.
Keeps the heat, lights, and water on for a single parent and their children for one month.
Fills the fridge and puts meals on the table for a single-parent family for one month.
Helps a single parent cover rent for one month, keeping their family stably housed.
Samah’s story is not an exception. It reflects a cycle we see again and again among single parents.
Many are ready and willing to work, but lack of childcare makes steady employment impossible. Others are parenting children with disabilities or complex needs, carrying that responsibility alone while navigating rising living costs. Some are one missed paycheque away from eviction, one unpaid bill away from losing heat or electricity.
These are the quiet emergencies happening in our communities every day.
Your giving can break this cycle—help keep families housed, fed, and cared for today.Donate today to provide mothers and their families with hope, stability, and the essentials they need to thrive.
Samah’s story is not an exception. It reflects a cycle we see again and again among single parents.
Your giving can break this cycle—help keep families housed, fed, and cared for today.Donate today to provide mothers and their families with hope, stability, and the essentials they need to thrive.
Many are ready and willing to work, but lack of childcare makes steady employment impossible. Others are parenting children with disabilities or complex needs, carrying that responsibility alone while navigating rising living costs. Some are one missed paycheque away from eviction, one unpaid bill away from losing heat or electricity.
These are the quiet emergencies happening in our communities every day.
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Your donations will be directed to supporting single parents. In the case of necessity, funds will be directed towards supporting eligible beneficiaries as most urgently needed.