Help A Mama And Her Babies Thrive
Donation protected
Every mom deserves to feel supported and loved. This Kauai Mama just gave birth and needs your love and support for her postpartum recovery.
“I recently read that Black women have a 3 to 4 much higher chance of death related to Maternal Heath (pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum) than white women. That’s really scary.
Did you know according to statistics Black infants are also twice as likely to die as white babies?
The reasons why black mothers and babies are at risk has long been debated, but one thing that is agreed on is that this all goes back to the need of proper care and extra support needed in pregnancy and postpartum “
Ashley is a single mother of two babies without a place to call home (she is houseless /living in a tent on the bluffs) Ashley has a sweet 2.5 year old boy Zeek and just recently gave birth to another beautiful little baby boy. She is now facing extra challenges, navigating postpartum healing homeless and completely alone.
I first met Ashley several months ago when she responded to a job advertisement I posted on Facebook, titled: “Looking for help to clean my house.” Ashley reach out and offered to come over that day to help me clean, her plan was to catch the bus to Moloaa fruit stand and then walk an hour from the bus stop with her son in a stroller to reach my home. Luckily last minute Ashley was able to borrow a car from a friend and showed up on time with her 2 year old son in tow (eight months pregnant) to clean my windows.
I had no idea Ashley was pregnant when I had hired her and felt terrible putting this hugely pregnant mama to work, but she insisted she wanted to help, so stayed and worked a few hours and did what she could, resting when she needed —
This was someone who was trying to provide for her family single-handedly, and ready to walk a mile to do it. I was impressed.
Ashley has been on Kauai several years, you might remember her selling frozen yogurt from the shop down in Kapaa back in 2018 ?
The last two years have been hard on everyone, but for single moms like Ashley the burden of the pandemic has been overwhelming. Ashley has been houseless since covid hit in March 2020 and has been attempting to get help from the State to get back on her feet, and get some help with housing without any luck.
I’m going to be honest; When I first heard Ashley’s story of houselessness and her struggles on Kauai, I thought she should just pack up her baby and get a one way ticket home to her mama’s house in California. To have a roof over her head and receive the support and help she needed.
Since speaking with Ashley and her health providers and community, I have come to realize however that for whatever reason Ashley has trauma around her relationship with her mother and family so for whatever reason doesn’t feel safe in returning home to that situation. So much so in fact, that she is ready to camp out in the harsh elements, these past few years facing all kinds of extra challenges and hardships ( like walking long miles to fetch drinking water, or walking long distance to a job with her child in tow)
I have come to realize that other people’s journeys are not for me or anyone else to judge- It’s our job just to love them!
“Walk a mile in her shoes”
Ashley’s Birth Story:
Ashley recently spent all her savings on renting a cheap hotel to homebirth, and shelter her little family for a few days as she recovered the birth of her newborn baby and have access to a clean dry place to rest and recover —but as funds ran low just days later Ashley is now back to camping out on the bluffs out in the elements with her babies. (Special thanks to the kind accommodating Hotel staff who gifted her a care package of baby clothes and blankets)
* Unfortunately as Ashley was giving birth and recovering in the hotel/motel, her camping cooking stove and large tent were stolen from her makeshift campsite. Leaving Ashley now with no way to cook or warm food. (Nor does she have access to clean drinking water, electricity or proper refrigeration or a warm place to shower )
Birth and Postpartum is such a vunarable time of transformation and healing, newborn mothers require just as much love and support and holding as the new baby! By loving and supporting the mother, we love and support her babies, as this support allows a mama to wholeheartedly show up for her babies and provide that much needed love and nurturing that they require to thrive.
This little ohana needs some of our love and support now— more than ever. We're calling on you to make a difference.
Your help is central to expanding access to proper care for this mom and her babies.
Your donation will help Ashley
1. Buy a new stove for cooking and warming food for her and her babies, plus buy some plate lunches as she now has no access to warm food. As a doula I know how eating well is crucial for postpartum recovery and if Ashley eats well she will be able to continue to produce enough milk to feed her baby. But if she doesn’t she could be facing an underweight very hungry baby.
2. Either pay for 1 year of accommodation for this family or Purchase a Van. As Ashley doesn’t currently have a car or any form of transportation, a van would be the most ideal situation for Ashley to transition out of houselessness here on Kauai, while having a way to get around, access food and clean drinking water without having to hitch hike to and from town with her babies in tow.
It’s never been clearer: moms truly are everyday superheroes!
There is currently a van listed for $29k (they are willing to accept an offer!)
I understand this is ALOT of money is ask for, but why not AIM for the moon and LAND in the stars? This is Ashley’s dream, and greatest highest vision for herself! It would be incredible for her if it manifested.
Maybe you can only gift this mama $20-50 dollars However there are kind angels on Kauai who may have access to more abundance (maybe it’s not you or I, but perhaps this post will fall into the right hands?)
Let’s Dare To Dream!
Ashley could park the van at where she is currently camping and have a warm safe portable home for her 2 year old son and newborn! Also as it has a small refrigerator onboard Ashley expressed how happy her son Zeek would be, to have his yogurt which he loves.
(As it is she can’t bring yogurt home or it goes bad.)
As Ashley recovers it’s her plan to get back to work, (she is a yoga teacher) with a van she hopes to teach pop up yoga classes on the beach for others, especially other mothers with children.
Ashley also wants to start selling something at the farmers markets, to bring in some extra income to support herself and her babies.
Give A Gift That Gives Back, When you give to a mama in need, you’re helping provide families in under-resourced communities with the tools they need to support their children’s early learning and development during their most critical years.
Please Donate Today!
If we don’t, then who will?
Love
Radha
P.s please share this link !
“I recently read that Black women have a 3 to 4 much higher chance of death related to Maternal Heath (pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum) than white women. That’s really scary.
Did you know according to statistics Black infants are also twice as likely to die as white babies?
The reasons why black mothers and babies are at risk has long been debated, but one thing that is agreed on is that this all goes back to the need of proper care and extra support needed in pregnancy and postpartum “
Ashley is a single mother of two babies without a place to call home (she is houseless /living in a tent on the bluffs) Ashley has a sweet 2.5 year old boy Zeek and just recently gave birth to another beautiful little baby boy. She is now facing extra challenges, navigating postpartum healing homeless and completely alone.
I first met Ashley several months ago when she responded to a job advertisement I posted on Facebook, titled: “Looking for help to clean my house.” Ashley reach out and offered to come over that day to help me clean, her plan was to catch the bus to Moloaa fruit stand and then walk an hour from the bus stop with her son in a stroller to reach my home. Luckily last minute Ashley was able to borrow a car from a friend and showed up on time with her 2 year old son in tow (eight months pregnant) to clean my windows.
I had no idea Ashley was pregnant when I had hired her and felt terrible putting this hugely pregnant mama to work, but she insisted she wanted to help, so stayed and worked a few hours and did what she could, resting when she needed —
This was someone who was trying to provide for her family single-handedly, and ready to walk a mile to do it. I was impressed.
Ashley has been on Kauai several years, you might remember her selling frozen yogurt from the shop down in Kapaa back in 2018 ?
The last two years have been hard on everyone, but for single moms like Ashley the burden of the pandemic has been overwhelming. Ashley has been houseless since covid hit in March 2020 and has been attempting to get help from the State to get back on her feet, and get some help with housing without any luck.
I’m going to be honest; When I first heard Ashley’s story of houselessness and her struggles on Kauai, I thought she should just pack up her baby and get a one way ticket home to her mama’s house in California. To have a roof over her head and receive the support and help she needed.
Since speaking with Ashley and her health providers and community, I have come to realize however that for whatever reason Ashley has trauma around her relationship with her mother and family so for whatever reason doesn’t feel safe in returning home to that situation. So much so in fact, that she is ready to camp out in the harsh elements, these past few years facing all kinds of extra challenges and hardships ( like walking long miles to fetch drinking water, or walking long distance to a job with her child in tow)
I have come to realize that other people’s journeys are not for me or anyone else to judge- It’s our job just to love them!
“Walk a mile in her shoes”
Ashley’s Birth Story:
Ashley recently spent all her savings on renting a cheap hotel to homebirth, and shelter her little family for a few days as she recovered the birth of her newborn baby and have access to a clean dry place to rest and recover —but as funds ran low just days later Ashley is now back to camping out on the bluffs out in the elements with her babies. (Special thanks to the kind accommodating Hotel staff who gifted her a care package of baby clothes and blankets)
* Unfortunately as Ashley was giving birth and recovering in the hotel/motel, her camping cooking stove and large tent were stolen from her makeshift campsite. Leaving Ashley now with no way to cook or warm food. (Nor does she have access to clean drinking water, electricity or proper refrigeration or a warm place to shower )
Birth and Postpartum is such a vunarable time of transformation and healing, newborn mothers require just as much love and support and holding as the new baby! By loving and supporting the mother, we love and support her babies, as this support allows a mama to wholeheartedly show up for her babies and provide that much needed love and nurturing that they require to thrive.
This little ohana needs some of our love and support now— more than ever. We're calling on you to make a difference.
Your help is central to expanding access to proper care for this mom and her babies.
Your donation will help Ashley
1. Buy a new stove for cooking and warming food for her and her babies, plus buy some plate lunches as she now has no access to warm food. As a doula I know how eating well is crucial for postpartum recovery and if Ashley eats well she will be able to continue to produce enough milk to feed her baby. But if she doesn’t she could be facing an underweight very hungry baby.
2. Either pay for 1 year of accommodation for this family or Purchase a Van. As Ashley doesn’t currently have a car or any form of transportation, a van would be the most ideal situation for Ashley to transition out of houselessness here on Kauai, while having a way to get around, access food and clean drinking water without having to hitch hike to and from town with her babies in tow.
It’s never been clearer: moms truly are everyday superheroes!
There is currently a van listed for $29k (they are willing to accept an offer!)
I understand this is ALOT of money is ask for, but why not AIM for the moon and LAND in the stars? This is Ashley’s dream, and greatest highest vision for herself! It would be incredible for her if it manifested.
Maybe you can only gift this mama $20-50 dollars However there are kind angels on Kauai who may have access to more abundance (maybe it’s not you or I, but perhaps this post will fall into the right hands?)
Let’s Dare To Dream!
Ashley could park the van at where she is currently camping and have a warm safe portable home for her 2 year old son and newborn! Also as it has a small refrigerator onboard Ashley expressed how happy her son Zeek would be, to have his yogurt which he loves.
(As it is she can’t bring yogurt home or it goes bad.)
As Ashley recovers it’s her plan to get back to work, (she is a yoga teacher) with a van she hopes to teach pop up yoga classes on the beach for others, especially other mothers with children.
Ashley also wants to start selling something at the farmers markets, to bring in some extra income to support herself and her babies.
Give A Gift That Gives Back, When you give to a mama in need, you’re helping provide families in under-resourced communities with the tools they need to support their children’s early learning and development during their most critical years.
Please Donate Today!
If we don’t, then who will?
Love
Radha
P.s please share this link !
Organizer and beneficiary
Radha Kauai
Organizer
Kilauea, HI
Ashley Jenkins
Beneficiary