Donation protected
Hi everyone,
I'm starting this fundraiser on behalf of my friend, Erika - a strong, kind-hearted single mother of two, who is currently 16 weeks pregnant with a baby girl. She was engaged to Andrew, who tragically passed away in March, just weeks before their planned May 2nd wedding.
Erika has been walking through heartbreak, grief, unthinkable stress and financial burdens - all while trying to protect her peace and prepare to bring her daughter into the world. I'm sharing her story because she deserves support, and she would never ask for this help on her own.
Right now, Erika is facing multiple financial and legal challenges:
- She needs to cover the cost of a legal paternity test to ensure Andrew's daughter is officially recognized and can receive the benefits she is entitled to
- She's hiring a probate attorney because Andrew passed without a will, leaving a complicated estate process behind.
- Her homeowners insurance denied her claim for repairs in the home due to Andrew's death, because the police will not release the report from that night - at the direction of the Attorney General - meaning all necessary home repairs are now out-of-pocket.
- She and Andrew had already signed a new lease for a new home, larger to accommodate their growing family - but without paternity legally confirmed, there's no additional income or state assistance available to her.
- And like any mother, she needs help getting basic essentials for the baby - she doesn't have any items saved, as her two sons are significantly older.
Erika is resilient, but she is also human. She's doing everything she can to stay grounded and focused for her children, and she's handling it with more grace that most could muster in her shoes.
This fundraiser will go toward:
- Legal fees (paternity and probate)
- Out-of-pocket home repairs
- Baby items: crib, stroller, diapers, clothes, etc
- Lease transition and short-term living costs
Please consider donating, sharing, or sending kind words her way. She is not only grieving a deep loss, but also trying to build a future for her daughter with very little support.
Thank you so much for helping us lift her up during this incredibly hard time.
With love,
Ashley
Organizer and beneficiary
Ashley Belans
Organizer
Princeton, TX
Erika McCloud
Beneficiary