Hi, my name is Ang. I am the best friend and rescue partner of Raina - of The Heart and Hope of Niagara Lost and Found pets and Rescue. And I’m here to ask for help. Not for cats, but for a woman who has done so much, and now faces the biggest hardship after tragically loosing the love of her life and father of her 4 kids.

No family ever imagines a future with a missing piece, no child should have to face a future without their dad. After losing the only family and support she had, she is now left to raise their four children alone with no family, no help and no support aside from his sisters, their Aunt Justine and Rebecca, who are now the only remaining connection to their dad but can only do so much to fill an empty hole in their lives ❤️and we thank them for being there.

We all know Raina as an animal advocate, a rescue and spokesperson for the vulnerable animals of Niagara, not just on the streets but in the homes of many needing help. But, above all else, she is a mother of four (15, 9, 7, 3) and she is now facing that unimaginable reality.

After the sudden and heartbreaking loss of their dad, the love of her life, she is now left to carry the weight of everything alone — the grief, the responsibility, and the uncertain future ahead while raising their children who don’t understand, why them?

This isn’t just the loss of a long time partner. It’s the loss of stability, of shared dreams, of a best friend and of the person who their kids loved, adored and found support through. He meant everything to them and during the time they need the support the most, those who should be there supporting them are the ones showing the most cruelty.

Now she must find the strength to be everything for her children — comforter, provider, protector — while navigating her own overwhelming grief. Four young lives looking to her for safety, love, and reassurance. Looking to her for answers during an uncertain time as their world has been turned upside down.

With the increased costs of living, bills and requirements that don’t pause for tragedy, and the immense responsibility of raising four children alone, 2 with autism, the financial strain is not just immediate and heavy, but it is uncertain and for the long run. The responsibilities and burdens parents face together that were once shared is now hers to carry alone.

We are asking for your help to support her and the kids during one of the most devastating times of their lives.

Donations will go toward:

* Unforeseen expenses

* Support for therapy appointments the kids will be attending

* Items and programs to assist in developing skills to navigate Theo’s (age 3) low functioning autism

* School and future needs

* The gift of giving this family a small sense of stability during an incredibly unstable time, an assurance that they will have something to fall back on in the future

No amount is too small and every contribution is a reminder that there is hope and they are not alone — that there is a community standing beside them, helping to lift some of the weight. The way Raina has done for so many in our community.

If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page would mean the world.

Most of all, we ask that you keep this family in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate life without someone they loved and needed so deeply.

I pray we can come together to help this mom and her children find strength, support, and hope in the midst of heartbreak.

All donated funds will be split equally into a trust fund for each of the kids and an emergency fund for unforeseen future expenses.

“When you least expect it, that is when peace will softly come into your heart”

We hope and pray that as neighbour’s in this life, we can bring some semblance of peace, not just with our generosity but with our profound love and sense of community.