When a grandmother enrolled her 9-year-old grandson, whom she is raising on her own, in day camp this summer, she was hoping to give him a positive outlet to build friendships and confidence, in order to improve his mental health issues.
Unfortunately, he did not know how to swim, and the camp did not offer swim instructions. During an outing to a pool, he found himself in a dangerous situation that required intervention from a lifeguard. While he was physically unharmed, the experience was so frightening he no longer wanted to attend camp.
A case worker for the family introduced them to Mothers Trust Foundation, a nonprofit that provides immediate help to low-income children during times of crisis, to request assistance paying for swim lessons for both the grandmother and her grandson. They quickly received the resources needed to get swim lessons.
“The family was so happy to be able to safely go to the pool and enjoy swimming at a state park near their home,” says the family’s caseworker. “While it may seem small in the grand scheme, it is even bigger than simple swimming lessons. It is opening up a lot of experiences for my clients.”
Closing the Gap for Families in Crisis
The Lake County, Illinois, family who learned to swim and discovered a world of possibilities, is unfortunately not unique. While the official poverty rate has changed only modestly over the past decade, the rising cost of housing and everyday essentials has significantly increased financial strain on many working families. In Lake County, more than 54,000 residents live below the federal poverty line.
Mothers Trust, both a 2013 and 2026 Make It Better Philanthropy Award winner, works to fill that critical gap by providing immediate assistance when other resources are unavailable. After nearly three decades, the organization has served more than 61,000 children.
Partnering directly with more than 270 schools and social services helps get immediate relief to families who need it, putting funds directly into residents’ hands within 48 hours after their request is approved.
Small Costs, Lasting Consequences
For families already stretched thin, a relatively small expense can be the difference between a child missing out and getting to fully participate in childhood. A pair of swim lessons, a school fee, a winter coat, or another immediate need may seem modest on paper, but meeting it at the right moment can create safety, confidence, and opportunities that extend far beyond the original request.
For one grandmother and her grandson, that meant turning a frightening experience in the water into the freedom to swim, visit the beach, and make new memories together — a reminder that sometimes the most lasting change begins with simply giving a family what they need, when they need it.
How to Help
Mothers Trust Foundation provides immediate assistance during times of crisis to low-income children living in Lake County, Illinois, with the goal of providing hope, building confidence, and making a positive difference in a young person’s life. Donations to Mothers Trust help provide funding for education, rent and utilities, enrichment opportunities, medical needs, safe baby equipment, and much more to support children and families in need.
Jane Bodmer is the digital marketing manager at Make It Better Foundation. She has built her career around leveraging storytelling to drive social change, covering community and gender-based violence, refugee and immigration reform, and mental health for organizations like Heartland Alliance, READI Chicago, and Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. Her favorite nonprofits to support are Open Books, Openlands, and PAWS Chicago.
