Build a young family's future
Donation protected
My name is Noor Dawood, and I'm a teacher in Mendocino County, CA. I'm writing on behalf of a young, single mother who is seeking support as she returns to school and rebuilds her life with her young son, after many years of unimaginable hardship and instability. I've been a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA -- a volunteer mentor and advocate for children in foster care) for her for the past 11 years, and am reaching out for material help to support her in this critical moment of transition.
This young woman spent her entire childhood and adolescence in the foster care system and experienced homelessness and abuse as a young adult. I have seen her emerge from these challenges determined to turn her life around and independently support herself and her son. She has all of the instrinsic pieces in place to build a fulfilling life for herself and her family: she is thoughtful, responsible, extremely bright and motivated, and she lives a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle. She is the type of individual who showed up 30 min early to her housekeeping job every day for months, even though it meant leaving home at 4:30am to begin a 2-hour public transit commute each morning. Yet, even with these skills and my active support, we've experienced together the monumental hurdles that stand in the way of an individual extracting him/herself from the cycle of poverty.
Rather than applying yet another short-term fix, we have decided to take a step back and instead set her up for long-term success. She has decided to start rebuilding her life anew in a city in Mendocino County, where the cost of living is more affordable and my family can take a more hands-on, regular role in her life (we live nearby). We have just been able to secure an apartment there in a nice part of town, and she has also registered as a student in the local community college to continue her degree in Child Development, beginning in January. She is also eager to get back to work, and will begin seeking jobs in in-home care or hospitality soon after she moves.
We are seeking:
1) Monetary donations to help pay for moving costs and the first two months of her rent/utilities ($950/mo), as she finalizes work and childcare for her son, and begins the process of healing from her recent traumas.
I am working closely with this young woman to manage her expenses and establish a budget, etc. I will receive and oversee all funds donated for this purpose and ensure that every dollar goes towards building a future for her and her son.
2) We WERE seeking donated furniture and household items for the new apartment, but we were able to gather all of the essentials in just a couple days, and now they are all moved in! We are so touched by people's kindness and willingness to go out of their way to help.
THANK YOU so much for taking the time to read this, and thank you in advance for your generosity and compassion.
This young woman spent her entire childhood and adolescence in the foster care system and experienced homelessness and abuse as a young adult. I have seen her emerge from these challenges determined to turn her life around and independently support herself and her son. She has all of the instrinsic pieces in place to build a fulfilling life for herself and her family: she is thoughtful, responsible, extremely bright and motivated, and she lives a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle. She is the type of individual who showed up 30 min early to her housekeeping job every day for months, even though it meant leaving home at 4:30am to begin a 2-hour public transit commute each morning. Yet, even with these skills and my active support, we've experienced together the monumental hurdles that stand in the way of an individual extracting him/herself from the cycle of poverty.
Rather than applying yet another short-term fix, we have decided to take a step back and instead set her up for long-term success. She has decided to start rebuilding her life anew in a city in Mendocino County, where the cost of living is more affordable and my family can take a more hands-on, regular role in her life (we live nearby). We have just been able to secure an apartment there in a nice part of town, and she has also registered as a student in the local community college to continue her degree in Child Development, beginning in January. She is also eager to get back to work, and will begin seeking jobs in in-home care or hospitality soon after she moves.
We are seeking:
1) Monetary donations to help pay for moving costs and the first two months of her rent/utilities ($950/mo), as she finalizes work and childcare for her son, and begins the process of healing from her recent traumas.
I am working closely with this young woman to manage her expenses and establish a budget, etc. I will receive and oversee all funds donated for this purpose and ensure that every dollar goes towards building a future for her and her son.
2) We WERE seeking donated furniture and household items for the new apartment, but we were able to gather all of the essentials in just a couple days, and now they are all moved in! We are so touched by people's kindness and willingness to go out of their way to help.
THANK YOU so much for taking the time to read this, and thank you in advance for your generosity and compassion.
Organizer
Noor Dawood
Organizer
Boonville, CA