My name is Jacqueline, I'm 29 years old. I just got temporary custody over my nephews, Cameron who is 7, and Jayden who is 5. I had spent the last year and a half gathering up evidence of the mental and physical abuse as well as neglect from their mother and her partner. I got CPS involved a year and a half ago, and they claimed there wasn't enough evidence of the physical and verbal abuse and closed the case. I've been taking care of them since they were in diapers, being the only one to give them the love and support they need and deserve.

Since I got custody in March, I have been suffocating in bills that can't get paid or get paid on time. I just went to court for an eviction because of $318 being owed and just got hit with this month's as well as being charged $350 for my apartment complex’s attorney for the eviction. My utilities are going to shut off any day now to top it all off. I'm spending $300 a week for groceries and $100 to $150 in gas to get them to and from school while also working as a nanny, which I lose hours from if they're home sick or the daycare's closed. And now that I have them, my job at first said that due to my stress and "mental health" and lateness, if I don't figure it out and get my shit together, they will fire me and also told me to move back to Long Island to live at my dad's till I get myself together. But I now got let go of my job. With this case going on to get full and permanent custody, I cannot leave Onondaga County. If I get evicted, I will lose custody of my nephews, and the state will end up putting them into foster care till my petition for custody against their mother and their dad, who is my brother, due to them both being unfit parents, is figured out and finalized. My brother hasn't seen them in three years and practically never calls or asks if there's anything they need or how they're doing. Their mom canceled the first supervised visitation, which was in March, and has not seen or spoken to them since being emergency removed from her care. Neither myself nor the county has been able to locate or get in contact with her.

Both my nephews need help with their mental health due to the abuse and neglect and desperately need a dentist for black rotted teeth and broken teeth. Jayden, who is 5 years old, suffers from severe acute asthma, which has landed him in the hospital three times. I feel absolutely horrible having to ask for help, but anything helps and is extremely appreciated if you are willing to give a helping hand! I'm not a person to ask for help at all, but I have no other options. I've called social services, and the woman on the phone was extremely nasty, stating I'm in a pickle and she can't help me when I told her I just got custody and am facing eviction due to not being able to pay the remainder of last month's rent and now this month's. We’ll use the donations to pay what we owe to national grid and our apartment, as well as towards finding a new apartment for the security deposit. Any extra will go to both boys. I appreciate any help I get, whether it's from sharing or donating. Thank you in advance for anything you do to help us.