on today's front page, sparked a remarkable public response with offers of help and support.

This is heartening for several reasons.

One is that it shows that the charitable soul of the Bermudian public is very much alive, and that some mothers and children who desperately need help will get it and may be able to have better lives as a result.

The stories have also led to the rebirth of the Single Parents Association, which is to be welcomed because single parents need a voice and an advocate in the community.

From The Royal Gazette's point of view, it is rare to publish a series of stories and to get this kind of response.

Very often, this newspaper is criticised for its coverage of controversial events. We defend the coverage, because we believe Bermuda needs to now the truth -- warts and all.

This week's series has contained some unsavoury truths as well. But the fact that people have responded to the stories not with denials or criticisms, but by asking how they can help is remarkable and shows that the media has a role in both reporting the news and sometimes, making a difference.

The stories have also provoked something of a debate about single parents and that is long overdue as well.

Some readers have pointed out, rightly, that the subjects of the stories are not angels and bear some responsibility for getting themselves into this position.

That is so. That does not mean that they should be punished or denied the opportunity to make better lives for themselves.

And the stories may also help in another way as well. They should be required reading for every Bermuda teenager to prove that having a baby, no matter how appealing it may seem, is something that can wait until education and the opportunity to give that child a life free from want has been achieved.

No-one should be forced to choose between buying food for their children or paying the rent. Making the right decisions early will ensure that those kinds of choices never have to be made.