Every person has a story and every family has a journey. At Collective Kindness, we never forget the human side, empathizing with our clients’ struggles, crying at their heartbreak, cheering on their efforts, and celebrating their successes.
Here are some of the human stories that inspire us to redouble our work. We trust that they’ll inspire you as well as you consider donating to our life-altering work.
I never imagined I’d be a single mother of two, broke, desperate, and alone. But I also never imagined my salvation would come from strangers who believed in me and worked tirelessly ...
I never imagined I’d be a single mother of two, broke, desperate, and alone. But I also never imagined my salvation would come from strangers who believed in me and worked tirelessly to help me succeed.
I’m Gitty, from the Tri-State area. After a rocky divorce, I was skeptical when a friend suggested Collective Kindness. As someone with experience in nonprofits, I didn’t expect much. But I filled out the application, and within a day, their team reached out.
Their swift, compassionate support amazed me. We created an action plan that addressed my immediate needs and future goals of becoming self-sufficient and cash flow positive. In less than six months, I moved into a more affordable home, exchanged my expensive car lease for a lower-cost vehicle, and consolidated my debt. Now, I can cover our expenses, save, and focus on rebuilding.
For six months, I worked part-time with Collective Kindness, gaining stability and confidence. Recently, they helped me find a full-time position, and I’m now financially secure and confident in my future.
I’m forever grateful for the role they’ve played in my journey. I’m living proof that sometimes all it takes is a hand up.
Overwhelmed by debt, struggling to afford rent and a car, unemployed, isolated, and hopeless.
Debt consolidated, expenses reduced by $25,000 annually, affordable home and vehicle secured, full-time job, and financial stability.
I’m Mordechai, a father of three. I faced over three years of unemployment and mounting debt after losing my job during a company downsizing.
I’m Mordechai, a father of three. I faced over three years of unemployment and mounting debt after losing my job during a company downsizing. With more than two years of unpaid rent, my family was on the verge of eviction, and I had exhausted every available resource. The uncertainty and fear weighed heavily on me and my loved ones.
In my darkest hour, I reached out to a friend for help. He kindly offered to work on raising the $7,000 we owed in back rent but with one condition: I had to commit to working with Collective Kindness on a holistic plan. As he put it, “We can’t be back here raising money again in another few months.”
When Collective Kindness stepped in, I was blown away. They provided not just debt relief and financial guidance, but also a full, comprehensive plan to rebuild my stability. Their personalized coaching addressed every aspect of my situation, from budgeting to emotional support. Most importantly, they connected me with a life-changing opportunity—a $150,000/year job, my first in more than three years.
With my finances and confidence rebuilt, I’m now in a position to give back and help others on their journey to stability.
Facing eviction and total loss of stability, out-of-control debt, continued unemployment, emotional strain on family and community.
$9,000 in rent paid, eviction prevented, debt relief and budgeting support, $150,000/year job secured, confidence and stability restored.
We were drowning in debt, struggling with unemployment, and our marriage was falling apart. Collective Kindness reduced our payments, helped with rent, found me a stable job, and provided therapy—saving both our finances and our relationship.
My name is Reuven, and my wife Chaya and I live in South Florida with our children. At one point, we were overwhelmed by $27,000 in debt. With monthly payments exceeding $1,000 and no financial plan in place, our struggles began to take a toll on our relationship. As a skilled tradesman, I had fallen on hard times and couldn’t find consistent work to support my family. The strain was unbearable, leaving us both feeling hopeless.
Thankfully, Collective Kindness saw our potential and stepped in to help. They negotiated our debt, reducing our payments to $400 a month, and provided two months of rent assistance to stabilize our immediate needs. A Job Placement Advocate (JPA) worked closely with me to secure a stable job that made use of my skills, giving our family a reliable income. Collective Kindness also provided therapy for us, helping us address the emotional strain our financial struggles had placed on our relationship.
The impact was life-changing. With our finances under control and our communication restored, we not only climbed out of debt but also saved our marriage. Today, we are thriving together, filled with renewed hope and stability.
Unmanaged debt with high monthly payments, risk of eviction, unemployment, and marital strain.
Monthly debt reduced to $400, rent assistance provided, stable job secured, marriage stabilized with therapy, and financial stability achieved.
I’ll never forget the shame of my card being declined at Walmart. Collective Kindness gave us therapy, helped my husband secure a $25,000 raise, reduced our debt, and even restored my dignity with a new wig.
My name is Mrs. G., and my husband is a rabbi in the South. I’ll never forget the moment our challenges came to a head. I was at Walmart, trying to buy clothes for our children, when my card was declined. The embarrassment and hopelessness overwhelmed me, and I left the store in tears. That’s when I called Shalom from Collective Kindness, crying and unsure of how we could continue like this.
From that phone call, everything changed. Collective Kindness and treated us with so much compassion and dignity. They never made us feel judged or ashamed. Instead, they offered us the support and guidance we desperately needed.
They provided money for therapy, which was a turning point for our marriage. Before that, we were completely disconnected, with no respect for each other. Through counseling, we learned how to communicate and rebuild trust. They also helped my husband negotiate a $25,000 salary raise, reducing our financial strain. They even celebrated a personal milestone with me by providing a wig, helping rebuild my shattered dignity.
Marriage struggling, out-of-control debt, lack of funds month after month, emotional needs unmet.
Marriage stabilized through therapy, debt reduced to $8,000, $25,000 salary raise, emotional wellbeing and dignity restored.
When my wife lost her job, we felt helpless for the first time. Collective Kindness covered our bills, helped her find a better job, and gave us back our financial stability.
I’m Berel. My wife and I have always been self-reliant, both working full-time to provide for our family. That changed when my wife was suddenly laid off. Despite my job, we struggled with bills—a shock, as we’d always been the helpers, not the ones needing help.
Then we found Collective Kindness. They listened to our story with compassion and treated us with dignity, never making us feel “less than” for asking for help. They covered our payments for two months, easing our burden and giving us space to recover. They didn’t stop there. Collective Kindness helped my wife find a better job through their network, offering tailored support.
High stress, risk of falling into debt, wife unemployed, financial instability.
Financial stability restored, bills covered, wife secured a better job, family regained stability and hope.
