Stand with Leslie in Her Time of Need

Leslie Staber Lien is an irreplaceable staple in the Richfield community. As a Richfield High School alumnus, a paraprofessional at Sheridan Hills Elementary in Richfield, a mom to a radiant Richfield grad who has gone off to college, and an integral community member in so many different capacities, I am asking for our city (and beyond) to give to her just a small part of what she has given everyone else.

Leslie graduated from Richfield High School in 1980 alongside my dad, so we bonded over being the odd-ones-out as old and young parents who happened to meet in the middle having our firstborns less than a year apart. Since then, I have known her as a radiant and shining beacon of positivity and hope despite some harrowing stories of her past and truly unfortunate circumstances throughout her life - including a kidnapping and rape when she was a teen, a house fire when her daughter was only 5, and now her husband's tumor and the ongoing health disparities that has caused. I know she doesn't want our pity, but she needs a village to lift her now, and I'm so impressed with her bravery in asking for help

Due to caring for her husband, they fell behind on rent and are headed to court to plea for clemency before eviction and the homelessness that would inevitably follow. Climbing out of the hole they are in right now takes a lot of grace and a lot of money. I can only support her so far as a friend, so that's where you all come in.

Her husband has been granted disability, and she is still working full-time and picking up odd jobs, pet-sitting, and side gigs wherever she can. They have a plan to keep the house if they can just get out of this hole they fell into after he needed surgery. All of us have been close to that edge, and maybe we were fortunate to have family or savings to bail us out, but Leslie just has us: her neighbors and the people who hear her story and have the means to help good people in bad situations.

The money will be used to catch up on 4 months of back rent. Leslie is also getting back to more work since her husbands recovery, so she will be able to contribute more as her pay comes in!

I truly hope your gift comes back to you and the kindness and hope that we give Leslie can be reflected in our community in a multifaceted and radiant light. Thank you for whatever you can give!