Macon nonprofit provides haven for single mothers

When she was 15 years old, Sabrina Ellis-Friday gave birth to her first child. She did what she could, but things were difficult as a teen mother and single parent.

Years later, Ellis-Friday is paying it forward through Mother’s Nest, her nonprofit organization that provides supplies and a platform for single mothers to talk about their struggles and how to raise children.

Mother’s Nest distributes diapers, strollers, coats and backpacks from its office off Pio Nono Avenue.

If a mom needs something kids-related that Mother’s Nest doesn’t have, the organization tries to connect people with resources, said office manager Crystal Eddy.

“I know that when I had my children, I would have died for a place like this,” Eddy said.

Ellis-Friday, executive director of Mother’s Nest, founded the nonprofit in 2022. She said she wanted to combat some of the shortages she saw while working as a police officer.

When it first started, the organization served about 50-75 families. Now it reaches more than 150.

Ellis-Friday said mothers are not looking to be “dependent” on assistance, and instead they just need the proper skillset to take care of their children and family.

“People are really hurting,” Ellis-Friday said. “They aren’t looking for a handout, they’re looking for a little help.” 

Eddy — who has been working full-time at Mother’s Nest since June — said Mother’s Nest isn’t run like a business, it’s more like a family.

The “hand-up” versus “handout” philosophy cultivates a sense of community, since everyone who collects supplies outside the food pantry must participate in or volunteer at one of Mother Nest’s weekly meetings or events.

The nonprofit trains mothers to be better parents and runs weekly “Women who are Broken” meetings for moms to have a chance to relax and seek advice on common problems.

“We don’t have much but we’re willing to give them what we can,” Ellis-Friday said.

The organization is one of the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank’s 141 partner food pantries, one of 50 or so in Macon. Pantries like the one run by Mother’s Nest are bracing for increased demand amid uncertainty surrounding federal SNAP dollars.

Mother’s Nest also received $5,000 from the Macon-Bibb County Commission as part of $150,000 approved Nov. 4. to combat food insecurity.

Mother’s Nest scaled back their food pantry from two days a week to one day a week. Eddy said she wishes food pantries covered a wider area around Macon, as most are concentrated around their location and the heart of Macon.

Eddy also plans on heading a class at the Bibb County Jail for incarcerated mothers and partnering with LifeSpring Rehabilitation Center in Fort Valley.

Eddy said the charity for single mothers is always looking for children’s clothes and other childcare products. 

This story is part of a series by The Melody to highlight local nonprofits.