A breakthrough for the broken

Where did you leave your pieces?

When your spirit was broken, when your hope was shattered,

when you were unsure how to convince you that you mattered?

Where did you leave your pieces?

Wherever you left them, however they parted

You can still find you because you are not discarded

 

I may or may not know you reading this, but I would guess that you or someone you know can definitely relate to the words above from being in situations that caused one to feel hopeless, winded, and broken. no money. beat up. fighting to get ahead. It's even more exhausting when you feel like you did exactly what the world said to do--graduate from high school. Go to college. Get a degree. Get Married. But sometimes this formula fails us...miserably. And when it does, we pray that someone would be just kind of enough, pause long enough to SEE us and know we are worth a hand UP, not a hand out. For every time someone actually noticed you long enough to help, or for every time you thought to yourself, the moment you can help someone in need you will, pay it forward here.

 

I am raising money for a young lady who followed the formula but has broken and fallen to pieces in the process. Chances are you have probably seen her before:

• Graduated from University of Florida.
• Earned degree in social and community science to help people (the irony).
• Got married. Began working.
• Relocated as her husband got a job offer.
• Husband decides to pursue his happiness with someone else.
• Commits to raising their two children as a single mother.
• Loses Job. Loses Apt.
• Becomes homeless with two kids.
• Lives in car.
• Uses car to work as courier to feed kids and maybe get a hotel from time to time.
• Car gets totaled in a hit and run.
• Out of work again.
• Finally finds a family willing to care for her kids since they no longer have a place to stay.
• Swallows pride and decides to donate plasma to raise money for herself to afford Ubers to go to interviews.

 

Where is her family? Cant they help?

This young lady is an only-child, raised by a single mother (now elderly with osteoporosis) so her extension of family is nearly non-existent.

 

Aren't there shelters  and other programs that can help her?

She has not been above pride. She has tried going to shelters but most programs are committed to what they consider high or at-risk demographics. She has been turned away because she is not a sex-worker or sex victim, a drug addict or a victim of domestic abuse. When I asked her why she just doesn't say that she is, her response is that she doesn't want to take from someone who actually needs the services and help for those specific risks. For the ones that will accept her, it is a waiting list. She calls weekly. 

So you see, she is trying. She is looking for the slightest break to make her breakthrough. She could go on the corner and beg as we have seen many people do, but I stress again- she is looking for a hand UP not a hand out. And despite being down and nearly broken, she is still committed to being someone her children can be proud of.  

 

Please help me by donating, sharing the link, Asking others.

My goal is to raise $8000 in this campaign. This will afford her some footing so she may get her kids back with her in a safe and stable environment, especially before the hurricane season hits. This money will be used  for:
a used but reliable car to get kids to school and her to work ($4100)
make a deposit for a small apt and first two months rent ($2300)
utilities and connection fees: ($350)
buy a bed and a few home essentials ($700)
GoFundMe fees: ~$300-$350

 

Thank you for caring long enough to pause.  And please, no donation amount is too small or too generous.