Help Ca'Shanti Get To Preschool

This is Ca'Shanti, who attends my son's preschool.  She is 3 years old and she has fallen on some hard luck.  Her mother's car broke down and she then couldn't get to work and lost her job.   Now, Ca'Shanti can't get to preschool.  She is only three and loves school.  She was a scholarship student originally, from a partnership between the preschool and a local shelter, but now she can't even attend.  Of course, her mom also can't get to another job right now either, and that is even more important.  But probably the most important thing to Ca'Shanti is that she is missing preschool and doesn't understand why.

Here is what Ca'Shanti's mom says about her:

"Ca'Shanti is a happy little girl and she loves her family and also her teacher Mrs. Kristin.  Before she goes to bed at night she always asks if she's going to see Mrs. Kristin in the morning, and when she wakes up in the morning she asks if she's going to school to see her friends and Mrs. Kristin.

"Ca'Shanti loves to sing and dance with her sisters. She also likes animals.  The girls, Ca'Shanti, Carlette, and Julia (Bean), have two Betta Fish named Blu and Awesome Fish.

"I'm so happy that 'Shanti has had this opportunity to attend school and make friends with other children. I feel that this is very important for her social development. She doing well and I appreciate all that everyone is trying to do to help our family."

I came up with this idea for a GoFundMe campaign because I know my readers and friends are mostly moms and I bet we all had kids in preschool.   And my childfree readers have BEEN kids in preschool.  Most kids love preschool, I know mine did, and Ca'Shanti really does.

Due to these circumstances outside her control, Ca'Shanti will miss playing outside with friends, art projects, songs, circle time, snack, and special activities like the fireman visitor and the farm field trip.  Tomorrow is the Halloween pajama party and she will miss it.  There will be all orange foods, and Levi is looking forward to bringing in carrots.  

This is not a fancy preschool.  It is, however, warm and loving.  It makes me very sad that Ca'Shanti can't get to school, and sad for her mom, who is likely feeling horrible about it.  Incidentally, we live in the suburbs and there is really no way around having a car.  I don't even think there is a bus line around here.

Even a couple of dollars will help this mom get a new (used) car and allow Ca'Shanti to come back to preschool. My goal is to astonish Ca'Shanti's mom, who was really surprised and touched by this GoFundMe idea, and give her a way to get her child back in school with her friends and Mrs. Kristin.

 Thanks for your help.

UPDATE 12/11/15:

Since the launch of this GoFundMe campaign, there are several wonderful updates from Ca'Shanti and her family.

Ca'Shanti's mom started a retail job before Thanksgiving. However, getting to work involves a long walk to a bus stop. With limited bus service in the area, her commute often adds up to two hours on each end of her work shift. While some classmates' parents are helping pick up Ca'Shanti for school each morning, her mom still must ride another bus to get her each afternoon, with Ca'Shanti joining her for the ride and walk back home each afternoon. The roundtrip to school by bus easily takes her mom two carefully-timed hours or more, depending on bus schedules, while the car trip would take no more than 15 minutes each way.

The money raised from generous donors here on GoFundMe allowed Ca'Shanti's family to make real progress toward purchasing a new car. In fact, with help from local Techmasters Automotive, Ca'Shanti's mom has been able to identify a 2006 Honda Odyssey, thoroughly checked over by mechanic with new tires and systems. Between the GoFundMe donations and contributions from her own paycheck, she is nearly ready to get on the road, with just $680 stands between her and the ability to get her daughter to school, as well as to spend more time with her family (instead of commuting, in all weather, for up to 4 hours with each shift.)

As of today (12/11), she owes only $200 on the purchase price of the van, $300 for insurance and $180 for tags. Any amount raised above and beyond $680 could go towards extending her insurance coverage term.