“If I can bring even a mustard seed of hope to just one person, I’ll have done what I set out to do.” – Emma Matthews

At just 21 years old, Emma found herself facing one of the most daunting chapters of her life: she was a single mother to a three-week-old baby and her partner was in the midst of a mental health crisis. It was a frightening and overwhelming time, but it was also the beginning of an extraordinary journey marked by courage, community and hope.

“Being a mom humbles you in ways you could never expect,” Emma reflects. “That experience, paired with what I’d already been through as a child myself… it was overwhelming.”

With nowhere else to turn, Emma reached out to her mother — a resident in a More Than a Roof community. It was a step that would change everything.

“I remember staying with her and praying for whatever was going to come next in my life,” Emma says. “Three days later, I had a home of my own through More Than a Roof. And slowly I rebuilt our life.”

What followed was a season marked by small miracles and acts of love that made all the difference.

“I discovered the true meaning and importance of community during that time. So many people helped me. Someone gave me a kitchen table and oven mitts. Someone else would drive laps around the grocery store parking lot so my son could nap while I shopped. Others simply listened. People showed up.”

As her boys grew and entered elementary school, Emma began envisioning a future where she could take all she had been through and use it to help other people. 

Today, with a scholarship from the More Than a Roof Foundation, Emma is completing her studies to be a Community Support Worker through Discovery Community College.

“I’ve always been drawn to advocacy, crisis intervention, and supporting diverse communities,” she shares. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to help others feel seen, heard, and supported. My goal is to be the kind of support I once needed — to be the helping hand that God calls me to be. If I can bring even a mustard seed of hope to just one person, I’ll have done what I set out to do.”

Learn more here about MTR Foundation’s initiatives to support families, seniors and singles as they improve their health, pursue further education and training, and invest in their communities.