My name is Tailyn, and I’ve just started 9th grade at Sumter High School. I currently live in a women’s shelter with my mom, Lucky, and my 4-month-old sister, Hope.

I'm grateful to have graduated from middle school with straight A's, but a deep sadness overshadowed that day. My mom couldn’t attend my graduation—she was overwhelmed by stress, domestic violence, and a lack of transportation.

Once, we were a happy family, united under the same roof: my mom, my stepdad, my step-siblings, and me. Everything changed when my mom became pregnant. My mom adored the electric car my stepdad had gifted her, but one day, he suddenly sold it, making it difficult for us to go out. Our home, once filled with warmth, grew tense and unsettling. My stepdad became distant; he ignored us, and my mom’s desperate attempts to talk to him were met with silence.

The pain in my mom's eyes still haunts me. She cried so often, and I felt utterly helpless watching the person I loved most suffer. She endured silent and mental torment that led to a stressful pregnancy and the need for professional counseling.

There’s one bitter morning forever etched in my mind. My stepdad promised to drop my mom off at work but never showed up. She had to walk in the biting cold, and that harsh journey made her sick for an entire week. He eventually provided us with an old van, but it took forever to warm up in the winter, making our mornings an endless struggle.

During that time, my stepdad divorced my mom when she was eight months pregnant—without a second thought, completely disregarding her condition.

We used the van for two months, even though it only had two seats. After those two months, my baby sister was born, and we couldn’t use the van anymore due to the limited seating and the expired license.

It was a heartbreaking time, but my school counselor stepped in and helped us find a women’s shelter. We've been living here for four long months now. As I write this, we are still staying in the shelter. My mom is able to walk to work, and we rely on the generosity of friends for transportation.

I share our story with a heavy heart, hoping it resonates with you. Your support could bring light to the shadows that have overtaken our lives. We are confident that you will find it in your heart to provide for us generously. Your support would mean the world to us—and it will help us purchase a reliable car, which would give my mom the independence she needs to care for our family.