Hello, my name is Nikki. I am raising money to help me get a reliable car so I can move my family from our current living situation and start building something more stable. Right now, my family consists of my husband, my 13-year-old son, and me. With the current state of the economy, the goal is to cohabitate with my best friend and her family. We already know we work well as a team and can live together comfortably, so it feels like an obvious solution.

One of the biggest barriers in front of us is transportation. My husband and I share a vehicle, only possible because I have a work van my boss has provided to get to and from work. To move to the area where my best friend already has a career, I need a reliable commuter car for when I get a job. The car really is the first step in finding employment, getting established, and moving in with my bestie!!! However, my job as a local rural mail carrier barely covers the bills, thus saving for a vehicle is a slow and tedious task. I love my job. I love my community. I will be sad to let it go, but it is time to say goodbye to this little shelter I was so graciously provided in my time of need, and it is time for the next person to be graced.

To make a difficult situation even harder, my husband is permanently disabled, so work options are limited, especially living so far out in the country. My son is only 13, and I want his focus to stay where it should be: on school and friends, not on adult financial stress. I’m doing everything I can to help us move forward, including selling my handmade fiber arts and gaining a social media following. Even still, it may not be enough.

The funds from this fundraiser will go directly toward buying a car, along with any repairs or immediate servicing it may need. Having a dependable commuter vehicle would help me take the next step toward a brighter future for my family, both the one I live with now and the one I am anxiously waiting to cohabitate with.

Your donation or share means the world to our family. We are currently working hard to reach financial safety and secure a better, more stable living situation. Every single bit of support—whether it is a donation or simply sharing this link with others—brings us one step closer to a safe home. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and generosity.