A Year of Momentum: How Our Community Showed Up for Moms in 2025

As we come to the close of 2025, we’re reflecting on a year that stretched MOMentum in every way, and reminded us why this work matters so deeply.

This year brought growth. It brought urgency. And most importantly, it brought countless moments where our community stepped up to ensure moms and their families didn’t fall through the cracks.

The Need Is Real

In Omaha, transportation is not a convenience, it’s a gatekeeper to opportunity.

Omaha is a car-dependent city, yet many of the families we serve live in North Omaha while employment opportunities are often located far west of 108th Street. For moms without reliable vehicles, public transit is rarely a viable option. Many spend $100–$400 per week on rideshares just to get to work. An impossible cost for families already navigating housing instability, childcare challenges, and systemic inequities.

In 2025, the unemployment rate for Black women rose to 6%, compared to 4.2% overall. Transportation remains one of the most overlooked barriers keeping moms from securing and maintaining employment.

That’s where MOMentum stepped in.

What We Accomplished Together

Because of community support, dedicated staff, and committed volunteers, 2025 became one of MOMentum’s highest-impact years to date.

Through our Rides to Work program alone:

• 120 low-income, single mothers were served

• 100% of participants secured or maintained employment during their three-month program period

• Approximately 1,560 rides were provided—averaging 30 rides per week

• Demand exceeded capacity, with 100+ applications submitted since August and a growing waitlist
  

Beyond transportation, our impact extended across the entire family:

• Our clothing closet served more than 2,500 family members, ensuring moms and children had access to workwear, school clothes, and essentials

• We provided career coaching and direct support to over 60 moms, supporting job readiness, confidence, and long-term planning

• We made referrals to more than 30 community organizations, connecting families to housing support, childcare resources, food access, healthcare, and other critical services they rely on

Many of our moms are experiencing a myriad of issues, from housing to childcare to transportation. By addressing multiple barriers at once, moms were able to stay employed, reduce financial strain, and focus on caring for their families.

Our Four Focus Pillars

MOMentum exists to support moms holistically. Our work is grounded in four core pillars:

1. Transportation Reliable transportation is foundational to economic stability. Access to safe, consistent rides opens the door to employment, childcare, and education.

2. Career Empowerment We support moms as they secure employment, maintain jobs, and work toward long-term financial independence—not just short-term placement.

3. Social Capital Building Connection matters. We help moms build networks, relationships, and community support so they’re not navigating systems alone.

4. Supportive Services Supporting moms where they are, and with whatever they need to succeed. A free clothing closet, referrals to much needed services, and the critical wraparound support we provide. When economic instability increased in late 2025, we adapted by providing food pantry items, hygiene supplies, and cleaning products directly to families so employment and caregiving could remain priorities. 
   

Powered by Volunteers and Staff Who Go Above and Beyond

None of this would be possible without the people behind the work.

To our volunteers, especially those supporting the clothing closet: thank you for giving your time, care, and energy. Because of you, thousands of family members were met with dignity and compassion.

To our staff: you are the heart of MOMentum. You consistently go above and beyond. You advocate for moms, solve complex challenges, and show up with empathy and resolve. Our families feel your commitment every day.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we look to 2026, we are both proud and realistic.

The need is growing. Our waitlist continues to expand. Moms are navigating rising costs, unstable systems, and limited access to opportunity. They are counting on MOMentum to keep showing up.

As we close out the year, we invite you to be part of what comes next:

• A year-end donation helps fund rides, career support, and essential services

• Continued community engagement—volunteering, partnerships, and advocacy—helps sustain and grow this work

• It is a priority for us to provide more transportation services in 2026. To do that we need to purchase an additional vehicle, bring on more drivers, and prepare for serving more moms and their families. Your support can make the difference. - Give Now
  

Together, we are responding to urgent needs today while building pathways to stability for tomorrow.

Thank you for being part of this momentum.