A Special Birthday Request to Help a Family in Need

Dear friends,

Much to my own surprise, I’ll be turning 50 at the end of February this year. It’s incredible to reflect on how far I’ve come, and I’ll admit—I don’t feel 50 at all!

In the midst of this milestone, our family recently moved, and Olivia started at a new school. With this change, she’s made some wonderful new friends. One of her friends has touched my heart deeply, and I feel compelled to share their story and do what I can to help.

This friend’s family recently moved here from Chicago, but they’ve faced unimaginable hardships. Tragically, her father passed away, leaving her mother to care for four young children, all of whom are in elementary school. One of the boys has sickle cell anemia and requires ongoing treatments.

What struck me this week was when the family’s car was repossessed. I picked up Olivia’s friend after school, and she joined us for dinner. She was so excited just to share a meal with us. She mentioned her brothers would be jealous because all they had to eat at home was oatmeal—aside from the meals they receive at school.

As I asked more questions, I learned their situation is far more challenging than I imagined. They’re living in a small one-bedroom apartment with very little furniture. They all share one bed, and they don’t even have a couch.

That evening, I packed up what I could from my pantry and dropped it off with her mother when I took her home. The gratitude and smiles on their faces were enough to bring me to tears.

Her mother is one of the kindest, most hardworking women I’ve ever met. She juggles multiple jobs while being an incredible mother. She’s deeply involved in her children’s lives and never misses a school activity. Honestly, she makes me reflect on the times I’ve missed events at Olivia’s school due to work—it’s humbling.

So, for my birthday this year, I’m asking for something different. Instead of gifts, I’m hoping you’ll consider helping this family. I’ve set up a GoFundMe to make a meaningful difference in their lives.

Any contribution, no matter how small, will go a long way in helping provide food, furniture, and stability for this family. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any support you can offer.

With gratitude,

Misti