I am starting a Go Fund Me for an amazing family of four that I met through the Fishers Youth Initiative. They are the kind of people who will give you the shirt off their back, even if it’s the last one they have left. The single mom is one of the hardest-working people I know. Without a college degree, she hasn’t been able to find a job that pays a livable wage, even for their very modest life. (The other day I was with one of the kids and her phone case, on her very, very old hand-me-down phone that barely works, was splitting in half. I told her I wanted to buy her a new one to protect her phone and she said “Oh, no, you don’t have to do that, this one is fine. It’s lasted four years and it still works fine.” I ordered her the $6.99 case anyway, and you would have thought I gave her the moon. She was so grateful.)

Earlier this year, the mom took on a part time job in addition to her full time job to try to pay for increasing rent, food, bills, and medical bills. When she did, her SNAP benefits were cut because on paper she “made too much money”, even though she is under water, cannot afford another coming apartment rent increase, and has relied heavily on this SNAP benefits. She went to the trustee office to try to get help, but they told her that her 19-year old daughter who is in college on partial scholarship is technically an adult so they will not help the family because the daughter should be contributing to the bills, even though every penny this student works for goes to pay the balance of her college tuition. One of the children had a hospital stay last year which really put the family in debt, as they do not have medical insurance and can’t afford to get it.

One child has desperately needed hip surgery and cannot put it off any longer, so it is planned for early December and the mom is distraught at how she will ever be able to pay for it. Her main job has agreed to let her work from home to take care of her child during the recovery for two weeks, but she will not be able to go into her second job and will lose that income during the recovery. The kids need things like haircuts. The mom does not have any health insurance and desperately needs dental work; every time she needs to go to urgent care for a medical need, the bills pile higher.

They do not have any extended family that live in this state or that have the ability to help in any way. Their car is falling apart and she cannot afford the repairs. It is so unreliable that she has to rent a car to drive to get her daughter from school for long breaks, and those expenses add up, too. She does go to food banks when she can, but working 70 hours a week between two jobs doesn’t usually allow for time to get there during their open hours.

This family is the most wonderful, kind, amazing family, and they could really use a break. The children know that there won’t be any gifts this year, and they understand and are okay with it. I, however, want them to have the gift of breathing a little easier this holiday season.

I’m asking for money in ANY amount (it all adds up!!!) to help provide food, necessities, and pay medical bills. Nobody should have to live in so much stress and fear all the time.

Donations of ALL amounts are so very appreciated and make such a difference. Thank you so much!!!