Exploring Life & Business with Jennifer Hoffman of Life Options Network

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Hoffman

Hi Jennifer , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a young person I walked with a number of moms who had babies alone, in tough circumstances. I saw the struggles they faced without the long term, ongoing support of their community. I also saw the need for a landing pad of sorts for women and families when they are simply going through a rough season. I recognized that many women were making negative choices around the lives and well-being of their children due to poverty and believed we could do better as a society.

In addition to all of this, my husband and I went through an incredibly difficult season financially while raising two young babies in our late twenties. I worked part time and he worked full time, money was always tight and we knew what it was to be negative in our bank account, not for lack of hard work and even college educations. Due to all of these experiences, in 2017, after some serious prayer and encouragement from friends I began the journey of figuring out what mothers needed.

I interviewed mothers in multiple circumstances and seasons who had faced enormous barriers and even those who gave up their children. I asked, what did you need? What would have made this situation better? It always came down to provision and community. Many were single, and their stories confirmed that we also have a great need for good fathers.

As someone who has always been a working mom, I value working women. I also understand that there are times that we need a hand up. I began developing our advocacy program first which helps women access housing, food, job support and encouragement in tough places. As a Christ focused organization we believe all humans are loved by God and we absolutely want women to know they do not have to ever walk in shame for needing help, especially as they raise kids.

After this, we began to get items donated for the moms we would impact. We decided to put them in a storage unit and invite moms to come in who needed them. This was all started in Vancouver, Washington. Moms began to line up their cars. They came with dented vehicles, sorting through our boxes of donated items. Our hearts broke as we recognized the need was great. So, not having much funding, my friend organized the storage unit to look like a store. We came up with a system and that is where the store was born.

After this, we were donated enough income to open a small store in a retail space. One day we received a call from a social worker who had been working with a parenting teenager. She told me a judge would only allow this teen out of prison time if she did a teen parent program. We did not have one, so I began to look to see if there were any locally. There weren’t any that were active. So, I looked at my volunteers and said, “I guess we’re starting a teen parent night”.

We shared this program with this teenager and many others. Today this program instructs teen parents on how to care for their babies to keep them safe and gives life skills like budgeting and conscious parenting to many teen parents who were not raised with those skill sets. We feed them dinner and they get to play games and shop for free. Our heart is for them to know they’re not alone and that they can still be teen. This is a monthly event that has changed lives.

This year I opened my fifth facility in the Mt. Juliet/Old Hickory area. We have loved seeing moms in all seasons coming in for baby and toddler items. In May, we are putting on a large concert benefit at Breedens’ Orchard so that we can raise funds and encourage the community to join us in our efforts of supporting mothers in all seasons. We know that it deeply impacts children. We have already helped a mom and her boys stay off of the streets.

I remember driving out of Hobby Lobby six months ago in Hermitage. As I was leaving, a mom stood there with her cardboard sign. Three young boys stood next to her, looking embarrassed and trying to avoid eye contact. I drove away as I had my kids and I was concerned for their safety, but then I changed my mind and turned back around.

I pulled up and this woman shared that she had no where to stay for the night. Her and her kids were going to have to sleep on the street. She was working, but ran out of funds. She began to cry as she shared she was escaping a domestic violence situation. I paused and looked across the street where she said she had been staying. I then decided we needed to take care of them. We drove across the street and I went up to pay for the night. She said thank you, I smiled and went to go. As I did, I felt little hands around my legs to give them a hug. I turned around and it was her youngest son. He was maybe three. His eyes had tears in them and he said “Thank you”. I’ll never forget him.

Today I have many stories like this I could share. We’ve helped thousands of moms with support through our advocacy program. Each of them have unique difficulties, but we have been so honored to support them. We believe every person should know they are valued and loved. Our program works to protect our most innocent and although I am just a small woman saved by the grace of Jesus, I pray that our society as a whole begins to see the value of each mother and child in all seasons.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The greatest challenges we have faced is at times a lack of compassion and awareness around mothers in poverty. Most people view homelessness as a symptom of drug use, and they usually view it as men in this position. However, for mothers in need it is often a lack of child care or housing that is inexpensive enough to allow her to do both well. They may not also be recognizing that a major cause of poverty in America impacting millions of women and children is single motherhood and struggling families are often in need of both ongoing support and care to break old cycles.

There is a cycle of ongoing shame as well. Many believe mother should be perfect. I am one who believes we should always work hard to love and care for our babies, but I have also experienced poverty and the mental and emotional challenges these women are facing are epic. We must begin to place compassion before judgement. We also must begin to educate young men and women about the importance of family and how to get ahead. Also, I believe we need to remember the love and truth of Christ in society.

We’ve been impressed with Life Options Network, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the President of my organization. I love that we support mothers in all circumstances and even struggling dads in need (although this is less common). We would love to share how people can join us in our cause. Our stores offer up to $5000 of free products and services to each mom we serve annually. Every $10 a month that is given to our organization helps one mom in need along with her kids! We would love for many to become part of the solution for moms and babies in need!

We are also proud that we are an in person, boots on the ground organization. We work hard to make the experience moms have with our organization feel caring and personal. We strive to show them how loved and valued they are.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
We have a faith based podcast that people may listen to called “Love Makes A Way”, which I host. It shares about families who have overcome incredible obstacles.

Pricing:

• 10.00 a month provides up to $5000 of free products and services to one mom and her children.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lifeoptionsnetwork.org
• Instagram: lifeoptionsnetwork
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAhL5AnQKuI&t=311s