My name is Cristina and I am a student in Penn State University. My family and I live in Houston, and unfortunately our house flooded severely this year because of Hurricane Harvey.  Before this incident, my parents were already in a lot of financial stress; we are originally from Venezuela, and we are in the process of getting my relatives (grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc.) out of that country because of all the violence and instability that is happening there at the moment. This includes paying for plane tickets for them to leave the country, which have become increasingly more expensive as more airlines stop flying to that destination. It also includes helping them to find a new home and pay for necessities while they find new jobs and get on their feet. All of these expenditures pose a big financial challenge for my parents, and now they also have to pay for all the flooding damage while simultaneously paying for my tuition.

In order to alleviate some of our financial problems, I am trying to collect a total of $11,000 through this school year in order to help cover basic repairs to our house, and help pay for my education. This way, it will be easier for us to get my family to safety, as well as persevere through the financial crisis that Harvey has presented us with. Any donation can help us at the moment, and will be extremely appreciated.  Thank you so much for all the shares and support!