Jessica’s Story

The Sequence of Events

For Jessica*, a single mother of two daughters aged 12 and 3, life was a careful balancing act. Juggling part-time work with classes at Point State Park University, she relied heavily on her car to keep her family connected to food, her employment, and education. When her only vehicle required expensive repairs, it affected all of these connections.

Without reliable transportation, Jessica found herself unable to access the local food pantry that she’d been relying on to ensure her family had access to nutritious meals. “I could not get the food that day because I needed to find a ride,” Jessica explained. Community-based support programs like food banks are only as helpful as they are accessible, and without access to public transit, Jessica was unable to leverage this vital resource. 

The Impact

The situation threatened more than just immediate needs. Without reliable transportation, Jessica’s pursuit of her bachelor’s degree was in jeopardy. Her in-person classes at Point State Park University would be out of reach, potentially derailing her hard work and sacrifice to date. “I am working on my bachelor’s degree and my classes are in person so not having a car also hindered that. I was considering not finishing though I have a scholarship for the classes at Point Park University,” she admitted.

Even more pressing was the threat to Jessica’s part-time employment. Her job, which covered the family’s essential expenses, depended on her ability to commute reliably. Without a functioning vehicle, Jessica faced the very real possibility of losing the income that kept her family afloat.

Not having access to transportation affected the entire family, too. Jessica’s 12-year-old daughter had recently discovered a passion for robotics through her school’s STEM program. This budding interest held the promise of future opportunities, but participation in after-school activities depended on having a way to get home afterward.

“My eldest daughter who is in 6th grade is getting a real interest in STEM. She is naturally good at it. I want to cultivate that and I worried that her having to miss robotics because my car wasn’t working would discourage that interest,” Jessica shared.

One Setback Can Close Many Windows of Opportunity

Jessica’s story illustrates how quickly a working family can find themselves facing multiple crises. A single mechanical failure had cascaded into food insecurity and the potential derailment of long-term goals for both mother and daughter.

“I struggled to get to school, struggled to get my girls to after school activities because the buses don’t do the robotics club part,” Jessica explained, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of something as common as a car repair.

Community-Based Support in Action

Referred by a Family Center in Jessica’s community, Footbridge stepped in to provide funds to cover the necessary car repairs.This set in motion a chain of positive outcomes. Jessica was able to continue her work and her degree program. Her eldest daughter could once again participate in the robotics club, nurturing her interest in STEM fields.

Jessica’s story underscores the connection between seemingly unrelated concerns like transportation, nutrition, employment, and education. It also highlights the impact that timely, flexible assistance can have in preventing a temporary setback from becoming a lasting crisis.

Perhaps most importantly, the family regained access to vital community resources. “I get food bank [assistance] from the family support center monthly, for now,” Jessica shared in her follow-up meeting, adding, “[I’m] hoping one day to not need it.”

Reliable transportation, especially in areas without public transit options, is often a family’s single connection to the community and its resources. In Jessica’s case, regaining it  preserved her family’s stability, protected educational opportunities, and restored access to essential basics like food. Jessica’s story reminds us that sometimes, a small bridge can span the difference between setback and progress.

*This name has been changed for privacy reasons.