It takes two people to make a baby; Rodney Smith believes it should take two people to raise a child.

The 25-year-old got fed up hearing about women struggling with the demands of being a single mother.

Two years ago he decided to do something about it.

He penned two relationship books and started a support group — the Single-Parent Mothers Foundation. It’s based in Huntsville, Alabama, where he’s studying computer science.

Its goal is to help single moms pay overdue bills, put food on the table and get transportation to wherever they need to go. The foundation also accepts used children’s clothing, which they pass on to families in need.

Mr Smith hopes to set up a similar group in Bermuda.

“I was inspired to start the SPMF by the women I met after writing my [relationship advice] books,” he said.

“The books brought me in contact with a lot of women — many of whom were single parents. After conversations with them, I discovered that many of them were struggling to provide the basic needs for their children.

“Many were working two or three jobs and still just barely getting by. Those conversations prompted me to start a foundation that would help.”

Mr Smith wasn’t brought up in a single-parent household but his mother, Yolanda, and late grandmother taught him to always treat women right.

“Single mothers have to deal with a lot,” he said. “They are more than capable of taking care of their children alone, but they shouldn’t have to.

“It takes two to make a baby, and it takes two to raise a child. It’s not right that so many men walk away from their children and don’t play an active role in their lives, leaving the mother to be both mom and dad.

“It is the single mother who has to take care of her children alone 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

His appeal to absent fathers is that they “man up” and take responsibility for their children. “If you plant your seed, you need to watch it grow, tend to it and harvest it,” Mr Smith said. “Single mothers should not have to deal with all the challenges that come with raising children alone.”

So far most of the feedback Mr Smith has received from the public has been extremely positive. “Mothers thank me quite often for helping them out,” he said. “Word of the foundation has spread like a wildfire. Many people want to volunteer in any way they can.

“I have even had single mothers, who were once struggling themselves to get by, start to volunteer to help other single moms because they know how difficult it is it to raise a child alone.”

Mr Smith initially bought everything for the foundation out-of-pocket. He earned the cash working in Bermuda in the summer.

It wasn’t enough.

So he hosted a penny drive. Huntsville residents were asked to donate their loose change to help mothers with bills and groceries.

Mr Smith also designed and sold T-shirts for the foundation, with all proceeds going to the programme. “So far the SPMF of Huntsville, Alabama is working great,” he said. “It relies on people who are willing to donate and volunteer their time and resources.

“We constantly solicit funds, food, and clothing donations so we can assist single moms when they request aid.

“The Bermuda organisation will run in the same way as the Huntsville branch. It will be more challenging in Bermuda because of the cost of things on the Island, but I don’t plan to let that stop me. I’m planning to expand and would like to see it in all 50 US States. I’ve already had people express their desire to have a branch in their city.”

Mr Smith said it’s extremely rewarding to get to positively impact people’s lives.

“When my foundation helps a mother and she thanks me for lending a helping hand, that’s all the motivation I need to keep going,” he said.

“I will be graduating next year with a computer science degree, but will be returning to the US to get my master’s degree in social work. This foundation has helped me find my true calling and God’s plan for me. I believe helping people is what I was put on this Earth to do.”

Mr Smith is looking for office space for SPMF of Bermuda. He also needs sponsors, and volunteers who can help wash and sort through clothes.

Anyone interested should e-mail smithjr1989@gmail.com.

He plans to have the group’s Facebook page up and running next month.