Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’
-Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. spoke these words at a time when the United States grappled with tremendous division, turmoil, and strife—a nation fractured by racial inequality, social unrest, and deep-seated injustice.
Yet, his call to serve others transcended borders, resonating globally as nations around the world grappled with poverty, oppression, and the shared need for compassion and justice. In a broken and hurting world, he fought for justice and recognized the responsibility we have to serve others.
This is the heart of One More Child’s mission. Following Jesus’ command when he said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34b ESV), we strive to bring hope to the brokenhearted, support those who are struggling, and fight for the vulnerable.
We accomplish our mission in five primary areas of programming: Foster Care, Child Hunger, Family Support, Single Moms, and Anti-Trafficking.
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, here are five quotes from the civil rights leader, pastor, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient that exemplify the purpose of each program area.
Foster Care
Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
Children who enter foster care come bearing the weight of trauma, many struggling with ramifications of abuse or neglect. Foster parents have the opportunity to bring hope, stability, and love to foster children by opening their home and their hearts.
One More Child’s compassionate staff members are ready to help you take the next steps to become foster parents, lead a foster family home, or provide wrap-around support for foster families by starting a Foster Crew. Together, we can illuminate lives with the love and light these children need.
Child Hunger
Occasionally in life one develops a conviction so precious and meaningful that he will stand on it till the end.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
At One More Child, we hold firm to our conviction that no child should go to bed hungry. This belief fuels our Child Hunger initiatives, which provided 19,580,059 meals locally and globally in 2023.
We feed hungry children through our Compassion Ministries, Backpack Meals, Global Feeding, Child Sponsorship, Summer Breakspot, and other meal programs. One in five children in America are unsure where they will get their next meal. Let’s fight child hunger together.
Family Support
Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
Many families strive to improve their situations, but due to a lack of resources and support, they struggle to believe a brighter future is possible. Through our Family Support program, we empower families to take the first step to breaking cycles of poverty and lead their families with strength and dignity.
Our prevention services strengthen families before the child welfare system intervenes and families are torn apart. We provide evidence-based interventions, parenting workshops, comprehensive support services for parents and caregivers, and access to tangible resources and necessities such as food, clothing, diapers, and school supplies to help families meet their immediate needs while building a foundation for long-term stability and success.
Single Moms
If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
There are more than 23 million children in the United States living in single-parent households, 80% of which are households run by single mothers. One More Child’s goal is to come alongside these single moms as they provide for their children and work toward self-sufficiency.
Each single mom has a different path in front of them, as they each have different backgrounds and experience different challenges. Our services meet these needs through mentoring, our Single Moms Community Program, and our Single Moms residential program.
Anti-Trafficking
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
In 2021, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received a total of 51,073 substantive tip reports nationwide. Given that human trafficking is chronically undercounted, this evil reality is likely greater than the numbers indicate.
One More Child holds tightly to the truth that one day, God will be victorious over the evils of this world—but we also believe that until that day comes, we have a responsibility to fight against injustice. In our Anti-Trafficking program, we bring healing and hope to survivors of sex trafficking and work tirelessly to prevent one more from being coerced into it. Our Anti-Trafficking Mobile Teams provide holistic care that incorporates physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
A Persistent and Urgent Answer
For 120 years, One More Child has reached vulnerable children and struggling families with our Christ-centered services. In the midst of a broken world with relentless hardships, harsh realities, and evil injustice, One More Child’s mission to serve those in need in the name of Jesus has remained steadfast.
We seek to bring the eternal hope of Christ to every child in every city; we seek to provide tangible support to every struggling family; and we seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus in everything we do.
You can join us in our mission to reach one more with the love of Jesus.