'Single Mother's Day' Held In Park Slope Empowers Moms In Need

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN -- Local nonprofit founder Cynthia Montour knows all too well the stigma that can come with being a single mother.

The Brooklyn native, raised by a single mother and a single mother herself, said she has learned it isn't unusual for single moms to tough it out during difficult times instead of asking for help because of the prejudice they may face if they do.

"They go through these struggles and because of pride and judgement they don't reach out for help," she said.

That's why when Montour started her blog, which then prompted her to open a nonprofit earlier this year, called Hope Deferred Inc., she made it her mission to let single moms like her know they aren't alone. The organization, founded on Monour's Christian background, seeks to help women in need.

One of the first steps toward that goal was her idea to hold a "Single Mother's Day," a night dedicated to empowering and lending a hand to local single moms.

Eight single mother's, referred to the nonprofit from local Brooklyn shelters, participated in the inaugural "Single Mother's Day" just last weekend.

The moms spent the evening at The Armory in Park Slope, where they ate dinner donated by the venue, shopped for clothes contributed by local designers and were gifted everything from "empowerment jewelry" to Christmas gift bags and diapers for their children.

"It's about helping them and encouraging them to know they're not alone and can get through it," Montour said. "They had such a great time -- it didn’t feel like they were coming to get (donations), they were just enjoying themselves."

Montour said the event was such a success that she hopes to make it an ongoing tradition for Hope Deferred Inc. Since the event, the nonprofit, which she started in January, has received a lot of calls thanking them for the event, she said.

"We received so much good feedback," she said. "The women (at the event) just embraced me and said thank you for sharing your story and letting me know I'm not alone."

Photos show Montour, Hope Deferred Inc.'s board and gifts at the event; taken by Tylik Hill, contributed by Hope Deferred, Inc.