Hi everyone,

I’m putting together this fundraiser for my friend Ely, a dedicated teacher at our local Bozeman preschool, Heartworks. Ely recently ran into an unfortunate situation after buying a used car — what was supposed to be a proud, exciting step toward more independence quickly turned into an unexpected and costly setback. As someone who pours so much heart into nurturing and teaching young kids in our community, I’m hoping we can rally around Ely now and help them get safely back on the road.

Earlier this May, Ely bought their very first car from a local seller on Facebook Marketplace. During the test drive, they noticed a slight rattle from the engine. When they asked the seller about it, he brushed it off as a minor issue — a loose clamp — and reassured them the car had been well maintained and recently serviced. The seller seemed sincere and in a hurry to sell, saying they were moving soon. Trusting his word and excited to finally have a vehicle after years of saving, Ely bought the 2013 Subaru Outback.

Two weeks later, they took the car in for a routine inspection before driving out of town to attend their sister’s graduation — and the news was devastating. The mechanic called and said, “I’ll be honest… it’s not good.” The list of issues was extensive, and the $5,000+ repair estimate didn’t even cover the full scope of what might be hiding underneath. The underside of the car was so corroded and neglected that it’s a miracle the wheels hadn’t come off while driving. According to the mechanic, the vehicle was dangerously unsafe — and it had clearly been that way for a long time.

Understandably, Ely was heartbroken. Not only did they lose every penny of their savings, but they were lied to — taken advantage of in a moment of vulnerability — and left with no legal recourse. Taking this through small claims court would be time-consuming, emotionally taxing, and unlikely to result in justice, especially if the seller has no assets or income to recover from.

Ely now has no vehicle to get to work, and no safety net left. I’ve watched how hard they’ve worked to build a life of independence and purpose — and I’ve also watched how quickly that was taken away by someone’s dishonesty.

That’s why I’m asking for your help.

If you’re able to donate anything at all to help Ely recover from their loss, and get back on the road with a safer vehicle, it would mean the world. Every dollar helps, and even sharing this campaign will make a difference.

Thank you so much for reading and for showing up for someone who has always shown up so BIG for others.

With gratitude,

Miranda

(on behalf of Ely)