Help Alicia Have a Home for the Holidays

Hi, This is Maureen Michelson and I've organized this fund raiser to help a dear friend, Alicia Rogers, who is currently houseless and hopes to have her own apartment for her two boys, Jeremiah (12) and Kingston (6), in time for Christmas. Alicia just moved back to Oregon after living in Oklahoma for 6 months where she found it impossible to make ends meet as a single parent. Her wages were cut from $20 to $15 an hour and she got only $174 a month in food assistance.

So, on the first of November Alicia packed up her car with her sons and 3 pets to return to Oregon before wintry weather arrived. Her plans for pet care and a temporary living situation fell apart just as she arrived in Portland, and Alicia has been scrambling and on overwhelm. Right now, they are sleeping on an old neighbor's living room floor, but can't keep the pets with them. So, I am fostering her 3 emotional support animals—their sweet cats, Bella and Shadow, and 10-year-old Rocco, a Chihuahua who thinks he's a Great Dane. This is the first time Alicia's family has ever been separated from their pets and they are really missing them and anxious to be reunited.

Fortunately, Alicia was able to transfer back to her job in Portland and higher wages, and now is working full time, but it has been tough getting back into her own housing. Alicia needs enough money to cover her move-in fees and security deposit for a place they can afford with help from Section 8 housing. Alicia is a hard worker, honest, and resourceful, but right now, she needs help. Her boys mean the world to her and she wants to give them a home before Christmas.

So, in this Season of Giving, I hope you can chip in and help Alicia and her beautiful family. Every little bit will help and these funds will go to a family that needs some helping hands to lift them up during this challenging time. If it seems right for you, please donate and then share with your contacts and/or Facebook friends and family.

Special Note: If you live in the greater Portland area and have extra household goods to donate to Alicia—including all kitchen things, beds, sheets, towels, furniture—please contact me. This family needs just about everything. Thank you for any kindness you can send to help Alicia and her family. Wishing you all the warmth and love of the season and I am grateful for all of you.