Kylie and Marty Talk About Their Friendship

Kylie – Client

Q. How did you hear about A Friend for You?

A. I heard about A Friend for You from my case manager at Summitstone Health Partners, right after I found out it was pregnant.

Q. What sounded most interesting about our services that led you to join?

A. What interested me most about A Friend for You was the one-on-one support and sense of community they offer to pregnant women. I loved that the program doesn’t just provide resources, but also real friendship, encouragement, and emotional support during pregnancy. Knowing that someone would be there to listen, care, and help connect me with helpful resources during a challenging time in my life made me feel hopeful and supported, which is why I wanted to be part of the program

Q. Who was your matched Friend, and how did your relationship with your Friend grow? What would you like to share about her?   

A. My matched Friend through A Friend for You was Marty. From the beginning she was very kind, supportive, and easy to talk to. Our relationship grew through regular conversations and check-ins where she offered encouragement and truly listened. During my pregnancy, having someone like her there meant a lot to me. She helped me feel less alone and reminded me that there are people who care and want to help. Marty is compassionate, understanding, and genuine, and I’m really grateful for the support and friendship she has given me during this important time in my life.

Q. Did Marty connect you with any other resources/opportunities in the community and was that helpful?

A. Yes, Marty helped connect me with additional resources and opportunities through A Friend for You and the community. Having her guidance was very helpful because it made it easier to learn about support that was available to me during my pregnancy. She took the time to share information and make sure I felt supported, which meant a lot during a time when things felt overwhelming. Knowing I had someone helping point me toward helpful resources made a big difference for me.

Q. What kinds of things have you and Marty done together?

A. Marty and I have spent time together doing simple things that helped us get to know each other and build a real friendship. We’ve gone out for coffee together a lot and also shared meals at Denny’s. Those moments gave us time to talk, laugh, and connect. Spending that time together made me feel supported and cared for during my pregnancy, and it meant a lot to have someone there who genuinely wanted to spend time with me and check in on how I was doing.

Q. How has having Marty during this time helped you? Do you plan on staying friends with her?

A. Having Marty has meant so much to me during my pregnancy. She has been a source of encouragement, kindness, and support during a time that can sometimes feel overwhelming. Just knowing I had someone who cared, checked in on me, and spent time with me made a big difference in how supported and less alone I felt. Marty has truly been a blessing in my life during this season. I absolutely hope to stay friends with her, because our friendship has grown into something genuine and meaningful beyond the program. 

Q. What did you think about the gifts A Friend for You sent during your pregnancy?

  A. I really appreciated the thoughtful gifts that A Friend for You sent during my pregnancy. They sent me a labor comb that I ended up using a lot during labor, and it was actually really helpful for managing the pain. They also sent me some labor prep tea that was really good and relaxing, along with some face masks that helped me take a little time for self-care. It meant a lot that the gifts were both practical and comforting, and it made me feel cared for and supported during my pregnancy. 

Q. What did you think about the post-pregnancy meals and gift package?

A. I was really grateful for the post-pregnancy meal and gift package from A Friend for You. After giving birth, having the spaghetti dinner provided was incredibly helpful because it allowed me to focus on resting and caring for my baby without worrying about running to the store. The gift package was also very thoughtful and made me feel supported and cared for during the postpartum period. It meant a lot to know that people were thinking about me and wanted to help during such an important and sometimes overwhelming time.

Q. Why are you sharing your experience?

A. I’m sharing my experience because the support I received from A Friend for You and from Marty meant so much to me during my pregnancy. Having someone there to encourage me, spend time with me, and help me feel less alone made a big difference during a really important time in my life. I hope that by sharing my experience, other pregnant women who may be going through difficult or uncertain times can see that there are people and programs that truly care and want to help support them. The kindness and support I received meant a lot to me, and I’m very grateful for it.

Q. What do you want to say to someone who is pregnant and feeling like she could use some extra support?  

A. I’m sharing my experience because the support I received from A Friend for You and from Marty meant so much to me during my pregnancy. Having someone there to encourage me, spend time with me, and help me feel less alone made a big difference during a really important time in my life. I hope that by sharing my experience, other pregnant women who may be going through difficult or uncertain times can see that there are people and programs that truly care and want to help support them. The kindness and support I received meant a lot to me, and I’m very grateful for it. 

Marty – Volunteer

Q. How long have you been involved with A Friend for You? 

A. I started in August of 2017 and have been matched with several clients over the years.  I’m still friends with the very first client I was matched with almost 9 years ago.  

 Q. What drew you to get involved with A Friend for You?

A. I just thought it was a great organization and that they were serving a need that wasn’t being filled.  It’s great to be a part of that team and feel that we make a difference in their life and their baby.

 Q. What things have you and Kylie done together?  

A. We go to coffee shops and once to Perkins for breakfast. 

 Q. Have you connected Kylie to any community resources?

A.  I have suggested several resources to her. 

 Q. What would you like to share about Kylie?  

A. She is a strong person.  When she and her husband were homeless she wrote to many churches and they helped in her motel until they were able to find housing.  She took good care of herself when she was pregnant and doing great as a mom. 

 Q. What kind of growth have you seen in Kylie?

A. Kylie was nervous to be a mom but once she had the baby her motherly instincts kicked in naturally.  It is great to see her with her baby and the care and love that she gives to him.  She is now a confident mother!  

Q. What do you most enjoy about being friends with Kylie? 

  A. I like to be with Kylie and hear about her life and how her life is moving forward in such a positive way.  

Q. What do you specifically enjoy about being a volunteer?  

A. I’ve walked along so many different women that all have different needs and are coming from different places.  I like to listen to them, not judge them, and hopefully my relationship with them will help them during this journey. 

 Q.  Anything else you want to add?

A. A Friend For you is a great organization.  They offer a lot of support, resources and gifts to the pregnant mom. They also support their volunteers and are very appreciative of them.