I have a friend who needs support from an amazing group of people! For some of you, it is our mutual friend, and you would know by the brave posts on her social media many months back. She has made a very courageous decision to leave an abusive marriage. I can’t give her or her sons name because I want to keep them safe and at first, I was going to give the details of the struggles she is going through. But I don’t think that is necessary. Her struggles are like so many others who are fighting for their life. The courts and the system are just not on their side, and defiantly not champions of women. Some women must give up custody of their child(ren), some go into extraordinary debt to fight all the little fights that seem so important to the abuser, and all the while wondering if they will live to see another day. She has done everything in her power to go through all the right channels and it has left her with almost with nothing. She did get permission through the court for a relocation to the south. There is a threat of being followed and that is something that will weigh heavily on her. But right now, she needs help to get there and get set up. She doesn’t like to ask for help, but I know a lot of us want to. So, I asked her if I could do this for her and she agreed with stipulations; if the amounts were kept anonymous (because anything is so appreciated) and that she could have the names of the people who stood up for her in this way. She has big plans to pay it forward and hopes to share it with the people who contributed. But right now, I would like her to focus on herself. Being a friend of someone who is going through this can make you feel helpless. A lot of times, they want you to keep your distance so you will be safe. I had another very good friend who also left an abusive marriage many years ago. She couldn’t talk about it then, I’m sure she felt so much shame. Many of us didn’t know if was happening until we received the horrible call that her husband ended her life. I wish I would have had the chance to help her or support her in some way that would have kept her with us, and that is why I’m reaching out to all of you now. I had my friend write down what her needs were to get her there and have a cushion through May. She wrote it all out and came up with $3050-$3550. I hope I can raise that for her and more. Please help me help my friend. Even a $5 donation will be so appreciated and you will be contributing to the empowerment of two beautiful souls.