Dear Friends,

My name is Anna Vandegrift. I’m a single mother to my beautiful daughter Avalon, who is 2 years old. From the moment I decided to become a mother, I made a promise to my child that she’d never go without the essential things she needed: a safe home, food, clothing…if you know me, you know I’ve worked hard to make sure she always had that.

In April, I had to make the decision to transfer to a much lower paying waitressing job- which cut my income from a livable wage to below the poverty line. This summer, I applied to job after job. I picked up any extra jobs like cleaning, catering, really anything I could get l- in the small time frames I was able outside of caring for my daughter. Finding a job that provides a livable wage for Denver, that allows for a single mother to have the hours needed, has proved to be incredibly challenging- virtually non-existent for my situation.

After months of paying whatever I could on our bills we are now facing our electricity, internet being shut off, and losing our home. I never thought I would end up here. There are so many other stories and details I could share but I’ll just say I understand now more than ever, how even the hardest working people can end up in a situation like this.

So here I am, begging for help to climb out of this and keep my daughter safe and fed. To keep working hard to give her a good life. Anything you can give would mean the world to me, and her.