Family Having to Decide Between Car and Christmas

Years ago when my mother lost her last job, she had no choice but to move through shelters/government housing all while attempting to raise two of my siblings and me on her own. As a result of her housing issues, I had to move out of state with my father. Today, she is still on her own raising my siblings while attempting to cover bills and expenses in an apartment. All of that in combination with the pandemic, the holiday season, and my mother’s broken vehicle have created a complex situation. Recently, the government shut down my mother’s food stamps (we have sent in multiple re-applications in an attempt to turn it back on to no success and the helpline is backed up- my mother’s last wait time was 5 hours!!). Additionally, due to the pandemic, all public programs in the neighborhood that she typically utilizes to help with groceries have been shut down (ex: Bread for the City). As a result, most of the money that would usually be going towards bills and unexpected costs is now being dedicated to food. Further, after helping my mother pay over $1000 in repairs in what was supposed to be her temporary vehicle, another issue has come up and our resources have been spread thin. While I am able to occasionally travel to DC to help my family while learning remotely, I cannot stay year-round due to occasional schooling/work responsibilities. With no access to a working vehicle, my mother is considering utilizing public transit (bus, metro, etc.) which we all know is very dangerous at this time (and something I do not want her to do). With the combined efforts of my work and occasional support my mother receives, we are able to at least temporarily keep the car working but that would be at the expense of Christmas presents for my two youngest siblings this year. With all of this in mind, my only true desire for this holiday season is for my mother to experience a moment of relief and for my siblings to have the ability to enjoy Christmas. Here are some incredible ways you can help with this goal and my family’s circumstances:


1. Contribute to this campaign that will be going directly to a better vehicle and Christmas presents for my two youngest siblings. For those who want to avoid the fee of GoFundMe, my venmo is @Cyrus-Burns . My mother does not have a bank card or else I would set her up with her own Venmo

2. If you know of any good deals on vehicles in the greater DC area/anyone willing to provide a deal on a vehicle, please contact us through email (below)

3. If you have any toys or gifts that you are planning on getting rid of, please contact us through email about it before throwing it out (my second youngest sibling loves Animals (Wild Krats), Minecraft, Nerf Guns, and Gaming on his Xbox + my youngest sibling loves Power Rangers, Animals (Wild Krats), and Cars)

4. If you know of any employment opportunities in the greater DC area, please contact us directly (hours preferably need to be on weekends, early morning, or nights due to kids). My mother has over 10+ years of experience working in the service industry (bartending, waiting, and management at Applebee’s and Friday’s). Obviously, there are not many options until we can get her a vehicle 

Anything that is within your capability and comforts during this stressful time of the year is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering helping out

For reaching out about anything above:
EMAIL - [email redacted]