Donation protected
‼️UPDATE 11/24: TIFFANY HAS GOTTEN A JOB! YAY! However, she is DESPERATELY still looking for financial assistance and just needs to get through this month since she is unable to start until DECEMBER 2, and, as we all know, she won't get paid right away - however, she WILL be able to pay rent after this month!!!! We are all so relieved that she has FINALLY been able to get some work! Tiffany needs AT LEAST 3,000 by Nov.30, or she will be receiving an eviction notice, right after Thanksgiving and not too far away from Christmas. We all KNOW she just needs to get through Nov. 30 and she will be in the clear and can FINALLY focus on the other areas in her life that need urgent attention (other than trying to raise her 4 kiddos and take care of her fur babies!)!
Please consider donating and then sharing with a few words on your post- it WILL add up and it WILL make a difference (sharing AND putting some words in your post. EX: "Please consider donating with me and help keep this Momma and her kiddos and fur babies in their home.")
We are going to strongly hold onto HOPE and believe that we CAN raise the rent amount requirement BEFORE THIS SATURDAY!
If you'd prefer to donate directly to avoid GoFundMe taking a fee when Tiffany withdraws, the options are:
Venmo: @tb0608
Ca$hApp: $tb0608
PayPal: @TiffanyBee0608
Our fundraiser goal is set at $3,500. This is 1) Planning for the cut that GoFundMe will take once we "cash out" and 2)We are hoping to have a little extra so that Tiffany can purchase what she can for Christmas (4 kiddos adds up!)
We are also hoping to raise even more extra money so that Tiffany can purchase a simple "Point A to Point B" vehicle, as this will 1) Help with employment opportunities including "side gigs" such as DoorDash / Uber / Lyft etc.
UPDATE 11/16 : TIFFANY'S LANDLORD SAID SHE NEEDS 3,000 (NOT THE $2,500 TIFFANY WAS EXPECTING) BY NOV. 30TH OR HER AND HER 4 KIDDIS WILL HAVE TO MOVE*
‼️There is a dire IMMEDIATE need to raise rent money for Tiffany and her family, and we are in crunch time!
(Links to Tiffany's “Marketplace” where she is selling items to earn money, along with her LinkedIn profile link for any possible job opportunities someone here may know about, are located at the very bottom of the page).
Some examples of what is being sold:
WHAT TIFFANY, HER 4 (FOUR) CHILDREN, AND 6 (SIX) FUR BABIES NEED FROM YOU TODAY:
A FINANCIAL DONATION FROM THE HEART and sharing on social media and/or texting those that may be able to help. With this, we can hope to get more people to view our fundraiser and (hopefully) choose to donate even a small amount to help.
➡️(CITY, FEDERAL, AND 15 CHURCHES HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONTACTED AND ARE UNABLE TO HELP…CHURCHES ARE NOT SUPPORTING OR EVEN SHARING BECAUSE TIFFANY AND HER KIDS ARE NOT CONGREGATION MEMBERS )
⬇️
FOR A QUICK OVERVIEW SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO READ THE ENTIRE THING (aka TL;DR) : (however, we do encourage you to read further if you have the time!)
First, we would like to give you a genuine heartfelt THANK YOU for taking the time to visit this fundraiser, as we are on a SEVERE time crunch to make a difference for a deserving and loving family who truly shows what compassion and the “pay it forward” soul looks like.
Tiffany has been known to raise money for others in need, as well as dropping everything to help family and friends anyway she can- even if it inconveniences her job or home life, she still shows up for others because she understands the struggles that life can bring, and how easy it can be to get knocked down.
I personally have seen Tiffany push through her obstacles, determined to “pull up her bootstraps” and get through the fight with a smile on her face, hope in her heart, and still holding on to the continuous contagious joy she gives others- to the point where most people don't know about any difficulties she is facing.
Recently, however, there have been several life altering events and situations that have severely attacked Tiffany and her family. Although I know Tiffany is doing her best to stay hopeful and focused, I can personally see the weight of it all becoming too much for her to carry alone without the much needed help from her friends, family, and community.
Tiffany has no family in Arizona that is willing or able to help, and the few genuine friends she has for support are either no longer in Arizona with her, or they have already supported in ways they can.
But, having been laid off, needing invasive surgery almost right after, no unemployment checks because they are continuously pushing back and telling her to file for disability, having her kids for 3.5 months solo, and jobs not accepting her applications, Tiffany is a month behind and will also be behind this month.
Now, we do truly understand that it may be easy to think:
“Everyone has problems right now. This family isn't more important than all the other families in need. Do what I and others have had to do, pull up your boots and don't air your business.”
or
“Well, someone else will donate and I don’t need to donate $10”
or
“I don’t need to add to this as I am sure they are reaching enough people who will likely donate”.
However, despite sharing on social media and Tiffany and her kids going to different locations (Farmer's markets, stores, etc.) to pass out flyers and talk to people during the last 3 weekends, donations are scarily stagnant.
We are now hoping that asking for a direct small donation of $10 from you today will help! And we challenge you to convince at least one person to donate $10 as well!
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
If you are unable to donate $10, but may be able to donate $5, please know Tiffany, her kids, and myself will still be extremely grateful. ANY amount helps!
Lastly, if you can share this fundraiser by copying the link and texting people, sharing on your social media page, DM'ing friends and family, or whatever works for you, please do as the situation is now dire and we need as many people as possible to be exposed to this fundraiser and hopefully donate only $10!
Thank you!!!
* FULL STORY AND BACKGROUND (Including how Tiffany has tried to get the rent money by herself, as she hates asking for help!) *
As someone who has been positively influenced, encouraged, and blessed by Tiffany (she was my 9th grade English teacher and she changed my life in such a positive way that I have made sure to always stay in touch!) I have created this fundraiser to help them as much as possible in this (brief) chapter of their lives, because I know that Tiffany, aka “Ms. B”, is resilient, hardworking, and focused on her family’s well being. I know she will continue to fight to support her family, despite the obstacles.
❤️ FAMILY INFORMATION (“MEET” THE INDIVIDUALS YOU WILL BE BLESSING AND HELPING TO KEEP SAFE AT HOME)
Tiffany is a single Mom who has always put her kids first since becoming a Mama at the young age of 19. Despite the walls she had to climb - including having her oldest and second child back to back with an abusive alcoholic / drug addict, which led her to take care of her children primarily on her own - she kept climbing and staying focused (while working, going to school, and taking care of two very young children) and eventually reached her first goal: earning her Bachelor's Degree in order to teach High School English and provide a more stable financial situation for her family. She is passionate about teaching and helping young adults, has a non-judgmental heart, and can see different perspectives in situations.
Next are her 2 oldest children- two responsible, hilarious, beautiful, kind, and supportive teenagers who pitch in whenever and however they can (and who are trying VERY hard to "watch the 'tude" and not “squabble” so Mama isn't stressing out more!)
#1 loves makeup, fashion, shopping, and hanging with her friends. She is looking forward to getting into the cosmetology field after high school. She loves cooking and has ASKED to take over cooking for the family- it is definitely HER kitchen. Right now, her favorite class is math!
#2 is a talented artist, avid reader, entertaining storyteller, and truly embodies the creative type spirit. She is amazing with little kids and has such a vivid imagination that she'll play with them for hours. She is hoping to become an artist or actress when it is time for her to head towards her career path!
Finally, rounding out this batch of occasionally chaotic and crazy family members, are the two mischievous, loving, and SUPER friendly youngsters (under 6 years old)
#3 is an animated, opinionated, feisty redhead who leaves a lasting impression on all who have the chance to converse with her. She makes sure to always take care of her little brother, and takes her role as a “fur Mama” VERY seriously as she is “Mama” to pup Alex and cat Puss in Boots. Right now she will tell you “I don't know. There's so many options and I still have time to think through them all” if you ask what she wants to be when she grows up. She is also an avid reader and truly enjoys reading to her “children”!
#4 is your dinosaur extraordinaire who loves to build with magnetic blocks and can design extremely creative structures with them. He isn't a huge fan of the family pups, as the cats truly have his heart, but if ANY living creature is hurting or needs help, he has the softest and sweetest soul and does what he can to help and provide comfort. When he grows up, he wants to be a firefighter who also is an astronaut and goes to space to fight aliens!
❤️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️❤️
The timeline of unfortunate whirlwind events is as follows:
➡️ Tiffany was laid off in February 2024 from a Training Staff Consultant role where she was making approx. $78,000 a year (yet still living on a tight budget since being a single Mama with 4 kiddos takes more money than some would think, even in a modest rental home!)
Tiffany then needed an extensive knee surgery a month later (a full cartilage replacement), which made finding a new job difficult. She is still unable to bend her knee past the “halfway” mark. (This would be equivalent to sitting in a standard chair with a standard knee bend). This also means she is still having trouble walking and standing for too long, and she cannot squat to get to her kiddos level. Furthermore, due to the scoliosis in her lower back, there are days when she cannot bend or move sideways while standing without excruciating pain. And although she will need to have another back procedure in Dec. 2024, it is the same back pain she forced herself to push through when she was a teacher who stood and walked around all day. For Tiffany, being in pain and having trouble moving isn't a reason to give up, no matter how tempting it may be.
Once things became clear that jobs were scarce and rent would need to be covered while she recovered from surgery (full recovery is about 12 months) she sold her car to prepay some rent and bought a smaller and older vehicle from a personal seller.
She did continue to search and apply for jobs 4 (four) days after her surgery, even though she knew that meant a chance of needing to start working sooner than medically “allowed” was present.
Through all of this, she continued going through the complicated legal process of a divorce case (She lost her lawyer in late September and has had to go through this case representing herself).
The divorce case then turned into a divorce AND domestic violence case in late May.
Her ex injured the youngest child in a moment of anger. This was in addition to the previous instance of her ex admittedly driving drunk with 3 of the 4 children in the car (one teen and the two littles).
Because of the domestic violence claim, investigation, and temporary custody court proceedings for these incidents (and most importantly because Tiffany was fighting to keep her children safe), she had sole custody of the children for 3.5 months.
This resulted in:
➡️ Added difficulty in finding employment
➡️ Delayed healing from her surgery due to being unable to attend physical therapy (no one to watch the children and they were not allowed to attend sessions for safety reasons)
➡️ Because of this recovery delay, she may need another surgery to correct the damage that may have been caused by the “pause” of the healing process (scarring occurring, “pieces” misaligned, etc.) This, of course, will push her attempts to move forward financially more difficult
Tiffany is also currently dealing with a SECOND family court case involving her oldest 2 (two) children, as the biological absent Father and her grandparents (yes, TIFFANY'S grandparents) reopened the case to alter Parental rights.
Tiffany is also without a lawyer for this and has to research / look for resources, prepare the paperwork correctly, and then submit on her own within the proper time frame (which she has expressed is extremely overwhelming with TWO different cases, very little resources to research, and typically getting different answers from the Law Library workers).
In May, she ultimately had to sell the vehicle she bought (after selling the first vehicle) in order to pay May and June rent.
This means that:
➡️ When the clearance for driving finally came about a month ago, jobs such as Uber / Lyft or Doordash were not an option
➡️ She does not have another asset to sell to cover rent again
➡️ She is unable to physically go to stores in order to purchase the few household necessities she can afford (hygiene items for her kids and herself, laundry materials, dish cleaning materials, etc.) and has to pay extra money for delivery and tip.
➡️ She is primarily looking for a remote job since she won't have transportation until approximately 4 paychecks in, so unless whoever her future coworkers are and/or her friends can give her a ride, she will have to Uber or take the bus (probably Uber to a bus stop, since there are no bus stops in Surprise, and then walk the rest of the way as needed to the workplace, damaged knee and all!)
HOWEVER, she will take ANY job and she WILL find a way to make it there if not remote (AND be on time!)
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Today, through grace, love, and hope, she has been able to avoid eviction once already; however, they are now facing eviction again, despite Tiffany's efforts to do all she can think of to stay in their home as she continues to look for ANY possible way to make money for rent.
While their landlord has been kind and thoughtful, at the end of the day, they are not a bank and cannot afford missed payments, and it truly isn't fair for them to be affected by Tiffany’s current hurricane.
I know Ms. B pretty well nowadays as a person and not just a teacher, and I know that her resilience is real and can testify that she is not a quitter or a beggar.
She also never gives a full explanation to people as to what her life looks like or what she needs, because she doesn't want pity and she doesn't want to come off as making excuses for the extended struggling she is having because she is being knocked down by something “new” as soon as she starts to get up by something she is fighting through.
Tiffany applies for jobs everyday, has been looking at what it would take to have a daycare in her home to bring in at least some income, she looks everyday for side gigs or contract roles (although AI has limited the need for those roles). She is active on LinkedIn and networks as often as she can.
Tiffany did want me to make sure to tell everyone that if there is something listed here that she hasn't thought of that she can do or work towards in order to earn her own money, please reach out!
Otherwise, Tiffany will continue to apply apply apply, and with Holiday season here, she is confident that she can get at least a temporary job, even if it may be a bit too physical for her conditions, she is willing to do what it takes to make sure her family is able to stay in their home.
And hopefully, sooner than later, she can get back to consulting, catch up on bills, restart her savings account, and start paying it forward like she always has when able.
Thank you for your time, donation, and shares, and we are grateful and appreciative of your support!
Tiffany's “Facebook Marketplace” where she is selling items to earn the money:
Tiffany'sLinkedIn Page: ( For anyone that knows of a job opportunity or may know someone who knows of a job opportunity)
Organizer and beneficiary
Yulie Hernandez
Organizer
Surprise, AZ
Tiffany Burdge
Beneficiary