Meeting the Moment: When Services Intersect, Families Thrive

Meeting the Moment: When Services Intersect, Families Thrive

By Lorna Little, President & CEO, St. Anne’s Family Services

April is more than just a month on the calendar—it’s a convergence of many powerful monthly recognitions that highlight the very heart of our work at St. Anne’s Family Services.

Firstly, as we honor Informed Women Month, we’re reminded that access to information is power—and when women are equipped with knowledge, entire communities benefit. At St. Anne’s, we ensure our mothers, many of whom are navigating complex systems, are never left to figure it out alone. They receive wraparound services that uplift, guide, and empower them.

This month is also Counseling Awareness Month, and mental health is central to the services we offer—from trauma-informed therapy to support groups that help our participants process their pasts while building their futures. Mental well-being is not a side service—it’s foundational.

Fair Housing Month brings our focus to shelter. Knowing that safe, stable housing is the bedrock upon which everything else is built, St. Anne’s provides transitional and permanent supportive housing. But it’s more than just a roof—it’s a place to heal, grow, and belong.

Financial Literacy Month reminds us that knowledge of money management, credit, and budgeting is a game-changer. Through workforce development, savings programs, and financial coaching, our families learn to break cycles of poverty and build legacies of stability.

Finally, with Global Child Nutrition Month, we lift up the vital need for nourishing our children—not just through meals, but through early childhood education and holistic care. Our Head Start and Early Learning programs provide both, ensuring every child has the healthy start they deserve. And through our community produce giveaways, we also ensure families have fresh, healthy food options to take home—because nutrition shouldn’t stop at our doors.

All of this is happening at a time when government funding for programming of all kinds is shifting, and we face potential uncertainty that may present challenges, but that is also calling us to deepen our advocacy and diversify our partnerships. We’re not just adapting—we’re leading. And we’re calling on others to join us.

That’s why this year’s Evening of Angels Gala—our signature fundraising event—was more than a celebration. It was a declaration. A declaration that even in uncertain times, the work must continue. Because every mother, every child, every family deserves the chance to thrive.

I am proud to lead an organization that provides whole person services. The totality of what we offer—housing, mental health support, education, workforce development, fresh food, and parenting support—makes a lasting impact.

At St. Anne’s, we don’t treat these recognitions as separate silos. They are threads of a larger tapestry. They intersect in the lives of those we serve—and our strength is in connecting the dots. When systems align, people succeed.

Let’s keep building bridges. Let’s stay informed, stay inspired, and stay connected–because when informed women take action, and we meet the moment together, families don’t just survive, they soar.

#InformedWomenMonth #CounselingAwarenessMonth #FairHousingMonth #FinancialLiteracyMonth #GlobalChildNutritionMonth #StAnnesFamilyServices #EOA2025 #SupportFamilies #NonprofitLeadership #SystemsThatWork #WraparoundCare