Single Parent Association puts out urgent call for help — and gets it with $20K donation

A single parents' support organization based in St. John's received a huge boost in funding this week as the countdown to Christmas is on. 

The Single Parent Association of Newfoundland and Labrador is looking for donations to meet its commitment of supporting 800 struggling families over the holidays.

Executive director Jennifer Tarrant says SPANL is seeing an unprecedented spike in people reaching out to the association for help in all of its programs, but also particularly the ongoing Christmas Magic program that provides gifts to hundreds of families.

"So in our first two hours, we had seen over 400 registrations, and they kept climbing," she told CBC News.

SPANL had to close registration early because the organization relies on private and corporate donations.

Tarrant said, the association had enough donations to support 500 families, but that still leaves hundreds unaccounted for.

But then a sponsor stepped in.

Shortly after speaking with CBC News on Tuesday, Tarrant said RothLochston Constructions came through with a donation of $20,000. 

"This was an overwhelming gift and will go a long way in supporting our single parent families," wrote Tarrant in an email.

"It wont support all, but will provide about 100 teenagers' wish lists for families or grocery store gift cards for approximately 200 families … which is incredible and takes much financial stress off SPANL."

Families in crisis

SPANL supported 400 families in 2022. That number grew to 500 in 2023.

Tarrant says these are families facing difficult times.

"We have a lot of sad stories, a lot of folks who are in between jobs, just struggling to make ends meet with increased rents," she said.

"This program helps alleviate some of that stress on top of all the other exorbitant costs [in] this day and age."

When people pick up their gift packages from SPANL, she said, many are overwhelmed and have tears in their eyes.

Tarrant said the spike SPANL is seeing is due in part because single parents are a financially vulnerable population who are feeling the cost of living crisis acutely.

"We are in the midst of a perfect storm for our most vulnerable populations," she said.

Wish list needs

Tarrant said most are requesting gift cards this year, for the ability to pick their own gifts for their children.

Many families the group is helping also use other SPANL programs throughout the year, said Tarrant, and many children are now teenagers who want to use gift cards for online shopping.

"We're seeing a lot of more requests for Avalon Mall gift cards, Walmart gift cards, grocery store gift cards, Amazon gift cards. So any donations of gift cards would be phenomenal. And as always, any clothing," she said,

Wish lists also include requests for snow suits and boots this year, which she said they don't normally see and it's a worrying development.

She said people can drop off donations to the SPANL office on Logy Bay Road. The group also takes online donations through the its website.

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