The Single Parent Resource Center, better known as SPARC Hope, began out of a necessity for our community to uplift single parents. Executive Director, Laura Wingfield, has been with SPARC Hope since 2014 when it was known as Mom’s Closet Resource Center. SPARC Hope rebranded in 2019 to offer assistance for all single parents–not just moms. Marketing Coordinator, Casandra “Cassie” Wingfield, added, “SPARC Hope originated out of Northeast Christian Church's kingdom assignment. They gave 100 people a $100 bill at their 25th year celebration.” All of SPARC Hope’s incredible work began with that bill.

    “We pride ourselves on being a hand up, not a handout, to single parents in need. All of our program participants are single parents who are working and going to school, trying to build a better future for themselves and their children. We are trying to break the poverty cycle in single-parent households through higher education. Our program is high accountability. The single parents that we serve are working hard to get to a better place,” said Cassie. Many programs focus solely on avoiding homelessness, which is very important, but SPARC Hope takes a different approach. “We believe that by educating themselves, these single parents can build careers that will end their dependency on government assistance. Their children will see this and learn there is another way of life. We provide many types of assistance for our participants including groceries, household items, personal care items/toiletries, clothing, rent/utility/gas assistance, holiday assistance, back-to-school/clothes shopping for kids, and anything else within budget,” said Cassie.

    If you were raised by a single parent or have an understanding of the struggle, SPARC Hope is open to partnering with you through volunteer work, monetary donations, and/or in-kind item donations. Most importantly, if you know any single parents who are having difficulties or are struggling yourself as a sole provider, reach out to SPARC Hope today to kickstart a journey that can dramatically improve a life.