ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Beneath the earnest pleas for donations by charitable organizations often lies a profound human story, one that unfolds in the lives of real individuals and families. In this instance, the organization seeking support is Helping Mamas, and the beneficiaries are mothers who have recently been released from prison or jail.
Tabatha Trammell, the founder of Woman With A Plan, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women recently reintegrated into society, knows the challenges these women face all too well. Having traversed a tumultuous journey through the criminal justice system, including bouts of incarceration and struggles with substance abuse, Trammell empathizes deeply with their predicament. Her own experience of pregnancy while behind bars, compounded by an undiagnosed mental illness, left her yearning for assistance. She acknowledges that numerous barriers obstructed her path to recovery. Today, with 14 years of sobriety and mental health treatment under her belt, she’s committed to making life a tad less burdensome for women who share her arduous journey.
Trammell articulated her transformation, stating, “I call it a renewal of the mind because I had to change my mindset to be open to rehabilitation and treatment for my mental illness.”
Presently, Trammell finds herself at the heart of Helping Mamas, diligently collecting donations for the mothers under her organization’s wing.
Jamie Lackey, the founder of Helping Mamas, elucidated the organization’s mission, saying, “Helping Mamas is Georgia’s paramount baby supply and period supply bank. We’re dedicated to sourcing and distributing essential baby items and menstrual products to those in most dire need.”
Among the most pressing needs are diapers, pull-ups, and baby hygiene products. To meet these needs and raise awareness, Helping Mamas has embarked on a formidable campaign with the aim of collecting 300,000 diapers and raising $40,000 in anticipation of Diaper Need Awareness Week, scheduled for September 18-24.
Lackey highlighted a disconcerting trend, remarking, “It used to be that one in three families struggled to secure an adequate supply of diapers. Now, that number has surged to one in two families, with middle-class households also grappling with the escalating cost of this essential resource.”
In addition to this challenge, inflation has led to a decrease in donations, compounding the hardships faced by mothers in need.
Trammell spoke passionately on behalf of her organization and those it serves, saying, “I represent not just mothers but also grandmothers and grandchildren. We’re calling out for assistance, not just in Gwinnett County but in the surrounding areas. Helping Mamas has proven to be an invaluable lifeline for our organization.”
