Alicia Taylor was heading home from a friend’s birthday party — a rare night out for the 24-year-old single mother — when she was suddenly attacked and slashed twice across the face by a stranger.

She blacked out, and when she woke up she was in hospital and had lost a litre and a half of blood in the attack, which happened near Pape and Danforth Aves. Then a wonderful thing happened.

Moved by Taylor’s story, a Facebook group of Toronto mothers rallied around the young mom and her five-month-old son, giving her food, gifts and offers of child care.

“I was in disbelief,” Taylor said of the unexpected show of support.

But that was just the beginning. In the week afterward, Taylor said she received dozens of Facebook messages from strangers who had heard of the attack.

Tiffanie Yarema was among them. Yarema, a 32-year-old mother of two, read about Taylor in the news and immediately wanted to help. She enlisted the assistance of East Toronto Young Mothers, an online community of new parents in east Toronto.

She explained the mother’s group had provided her with “incredible” support since she joined six months ago, help that compelled her to reach out.

“It really inspired me to do something,” Yarema said.

Within minutes of posting on the group’s Facebook page, there was an “overwhelming” response. Yarema quickly organized several drop-off points across the city to collect gifts for Taylor.

Taylor said that of all the messages she received, Yarema’s stood out. “She came right out and said, ‘We’re having a fundraiser for you,’ ” and asked when she could deliver donations, Taylor explained.

On Sunday, Yarema picked up Taylor and drove her to Shore Leave bar on the Danforth, where the moms got to meet Taylor and present her with the donations.

“Some of them tried so hard to get there,” Yarema said, explaining that two moms took rotating shifts watching their sleeping children so they could both attend.

“Most of them wanted to give her a hug,” Yarema said of Taylor. “She carries herself with such grace.”

For her part, Taylor said that she was in “awe” of all the offers of help.

“I feel so supported by women that I don’t know, that I’ve never met,” she said.

According to Yarema, such an outpouring of support is typical for the East Toronto group. Created by Emily Weinmann in 2012, East Toronto Young Mothers provides a platform to share advice, support and resources.

“I saw a massive lack of support for modern parenting . . . there’s no village any more,” Weinmann said, explaining that the group includes fathers and same-sex couples and is open to anyone raising young children.

Since its inception, the group’s membership has grown from one person — Weinmann — to more than 2,500 and currently has 800 names on a waiting list.

“I needed people, and boy, did I get them,” Weinmann said with a laugh.

The group is one of many for young parents, but according to Yarema, this one is different.

“There is a huge sense of kindness and compassion,” she said. “I feel like it’s 2,400 of my best friends in one group.”

Group members offer advice and words of encouragement, frequently dropping off food and gifts at each other’s houses — often for complete strangers.

It’s “a beautiful, pay-it-forward” community, Weinmann said.

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Yarema attributes the group’s strength to Weinmann, whom she says “really puts her heart and soul” into it. Weinmann constantly reviews member’s posts and discussions, ensuring “there is no judgment” within the group.

As of Wednesday, police said no suspect has been identified in the slashing attack on Taylor. But Taylor said the support of the group has made all the difference in the coping with the aftermath.

“It was a blessing,” she said. “A complete blessing.”