JOHN COFFELTEditor

Unstoppable Women, a local non-profit that is helps single mothers who fall between the gap between gainful employment and government aid, is working to expand its efforts for a bigger, brighter year.

Herself a single mother, Megan Ferrell founded Unstoppable Women to help women who are often forgotten by other originations that aid those less fortunate.

“Some of the women that we help don’t know how to set up emails or type up a resume,” Ferrell said. “But a lot are coming from an abusive relationship. They are beat down and they just need somebody to boost their confidence.”

“I can relate to them,” she said. “I’ve been on all sides of the spectrum here. I’ve needed government assistance and couldn’t qualify for it. I’m on the end now where I don’t need it and I want to give back.”

Ferrell said that the seed for what has become Unstoppable Women goes back to her attempts years ago to find assistance for childcare for her son. Ferrell’s income at the time was $100 over the limit, and aid was withheld.

Ferrell realized, “I’m not the only woman who is experiencing this. There are more moms who need help but can’t get it because they make a little bit over the threshold.”

Now her son is a teenager, and Ferrell is able to give back to single moms who are now facing those struggles.

Unstoppable Women started with a podcast of success stories that aims to inspire women.

“We talk about hard times and how they overcame hard times to succeed in life and giving back to others,” Ferrell said.

Moving forward, Ferrell held a Dress for Success Day event. Women were helped with their resumes, interview skills and the clothes to help them shine.

“We had gently used items,” Ferrell said. “We set up it up like a boutique shop. They could pick up what they want.”

“One lady came in and said ‘I just need help.’ ”

The Unstoppable volunteers helped polish the single parent’s resume. Then they guided her in choosing a wardrobe and fix her makeup.

“She walked out that day, went to an interview and got a job as a Hertz manager. She was able to get a better living situation,” Ferrell recalled.

Still there’s a drive to do more. That path lies in the organization finalizing its 501(c)3 designation so that it can become tax exempt and donations are tax deductible.

“My goal this year was to help moms at Christmas. We didn’t know how many we were going to be able to help,” Ferrell said.

To raise funds, Ferrell coordinated a music fundraiser featuring songwriter friends from Nashville held at Common John Brewery last August. About 100 guests attended the event and Unstoppable Women helped five families with children’s outfits, toys and gift cards.

County Mayor Judd Matheny was one of those guests. He saw the work Unstoppable Women were doing and later referred some people to Ferrell.

“She was very helpful and successful in assisting with the immediate needs they had,” Matheny said.

At the January County Commission meeting Ferrell was presented with a proclamation recognizing the group for their service to the county’s citizens

Ferrell feels a connection to the women she helps. She sees how the women maintain a quiet dignity, a smiling face that that often hides the struggles they face.

“I never want these mommas to feel like they’re a charity case,” she said. “A lot of them won’t really ask for help. It’s not that they’re prideful – they are such hard workers that they don’t want to ask for help.”

“I know what it’s like to need help and never tell anybody…to have the name-brand clothes that I bought at Goodwill. These women, you look at them and you never know how many of them are struggling.”

Defeated by the system, struggling to make ends meet the women Ferrell helps sometimes can’t or won’t ask for help.

“They don’t want to be judged. Some come from abusive relationships and are very, very quiet. We help them find their voice again.”

“One of the women we helped was in an abusive relationship. She was working nights,” Ferrell said.

The children are older so they are ok at home while she works.

“That’s still a lot for a woman alone,” Ferrell said. “We were able to bless them with toys and clothes. We were able to bless them with a Christmas gift too.”

When every dollar is budgeted to necessities, simple things become extravagances.

“We gave them gift cards, Sun Tan City bracelets… nicer things that they normally wouldn’t buy for themselves,” she said.

Ferrell said the floodgates have now opened. The blessings they bestowed, like high tide, are returning so they can again be given to more women.

The “Unstoppable” podcast is on all platforms or link from Ferrell’s social media (Instagram@ megan_615vip or Unstoppable on Facebook). The next Dress for Success Day event will be in the summer. Volunteers and donations are needed. The Second annual Unstoppable Night of Hope is planned for the fall.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.