Cindy Jaramillo was 21 years old and living on the streets when she was kidnapped by a serial killer .

 

The torture she endured was as bad as anything you can imagine. She escaped after three days, running through the desert until she found help and called the police.

 

After something like that most of us would curl up in a ball for the rest of our lives, wanting to do nothing more than escape the memory.

 

But she got clean and had a family.

 

Then she formed a nonprofit that has helped thousands of women on the street like she once was.

 

 

 

Yet, like many people who’ve struggled with addiction, she can’t escape her past.

 

A drug-trafficking felony on her record from when she was 20 years old means as a single mom she can’t rent a decent and safe apartment for her family.

 

So, she lives in motels.

 

With her in one room are seven children, ranging in age from one year to 19 years old. Two of the kids are her own, but she also cares for several teens — two with babies — whose parents are either gone or too far gone to care for them.

 

She works full-time at her nonprofit, called Street Safe, but they are too small to be able to pay her a salary, so she also works part-time jobs. Despite this, she helps everyone she meets.

 

Now we want to help her.

 

We want to buy her a house.

 

Because if anyone deserves all good and happy things in this world, it’s her. Seriously.

 

If we can get enough money for her to buy a house outright, the felony on her record won’t matter.

 

She deserves a home where she — and all the children she cares for — can live in safety and peace. Where there is open space and the beauty of nature. Where there is breathing room and room to grow.

 

And maybe more than one bedroom that everyone shares.