Nita Tennyson’s mutual aid group provides baby supplies and household essentials, as well as money for housing costs. Tennyson said the city’s young moms need more rental assistance and support.

By Amaris Edwards

The Love Train volunteers handing out supplies at 79th and Cornell in South Shore in 2020. (The Love Train/via X)

Nita Tennyson felt compelled to act after seeing her people in her community struggle to find basic resources and living supplies early in the COVID-19 pandemic and during widespread looting in 2020.

Tennyson launched Nita’s Love Train in mid-2020. The mutual aid effort provides donated baby essentials, hygiene products, household supplies and more through pop ups and contactless “love deliveries ” to Black and Brown parents and families around Chicago. The organization also collects donations, called “Love Funds,” to help struggling parents pay for living expenses, groceries or other needs. Many of those who receive support are single-parent families.

More than 4 of 5 single parents in the United States are mothers, according to a 2024 analysis from the Center for American Progress, a progressive think tank that develops policy recommendations around issues including the economy, abortion rights, immigration and climate change. On average, single mothers have higher employment rates compared to women overall, but they face lower median incomes and face higher rates of poverty than other parents.

As a mother to a toddler daughter, Tennyson also has faced obstacles with finding work in the city. 

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. 

Nita Tennyson sits in front of Perspectives High School of Technology (Pat Nabong/for City Bureau)

What inspired you to start Nita’s Love Train? 

What inspired me was the looting in Chicago. Before the looting, it was COVID, everything was shut down. My friend has three kids, and I was watching her kids. I had a lot of extra baby stuff because I stocked up on it, because I didn’t know how long I'd be watching them. But, when they were looting, on Facebook, I saw a status that said, “Y'all broke into the stores. Now, my baby can't get no formula because everything is gone.” 

So I had extra stuff. I called a bunch of people that I knew. Asking if y'all got some extra stuff just come out with me. You know, there was a curfew, so we sat outside until curfew and passed out whatever we had.

We left everything outside and when I came back the next day, everything was gone. So that just inspired me to keep going. Because a), the stores were gonna be messed up for a minute. But b), even the people who don't have access to the stores, some of those people don't have access to the money to get the stuff that they need.

What enticed you to continue providing mutual aid? 

My entire life, I always wanted to help people, since I was kid. I just feel like mutual aid is so much easier to do because I can really support people with what they need. It's more direct. I tell anybody that they can come to my DM, anybody could ask for baby stuff. Most of these people I don't even know or [have] never seen before, but when I give them baby stuff, I know it helps them, because they really need it.

What resources do young mothers need in Chicago? 

We need funds directly towards rental assistance for young moms and mom support groups…Because personally, I haven’t worked since last April, and rent is hard, but if I don't pay my rent, me and my baby have nowhere to go. That’s something that people need support with that I don’t think people understand. That’s how people get evictions [lack of rental assistance], which messes them up for rent later in life.

Also, just more support groups, they [moms] will be able to share resources amongst each other. There’s not a lot of places where people can come to a safe space and talk about what they need and what they’re going through. 

How does the Love Train support young mothers, specifically?

We have a lot of young mothers who reach out to us. I try to help them find resources if I can't help them. But even with the love deliveries at least for about a week, you're covered with baby stuff, so you don't have to worry about it for that week. Or I try to help them raise funds if they need it.

What are your goals for Nita’s Love Train in the future? 

My biggest goal for right now, which is actually in the works, is becoming a 501(c)(3)  – that way I can get grants to actually help me do more and reach more people. But long term, I would like to rent a space and be able to just be a resource center in the community. People can drop in, if people need volunteer hours, they can volunteer with us. If mamas need a break for a second, their kids can play [there]. That's really my big long term goal. A  space for the Love Train for people to feel like they can come and be safe and get what they need, and go home feeling a little better.

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