My name is Jennifer, and I am reaching out for help for myself, my son, and our dogs. Over the past few years, life has thrown more challenges at us than I ever imagined. During Covid, my husband of 20 years abandoned our family to use drugs, leaving me penniless and alone to care for our three children. I had to get a restraining order for our safety and filed for divorce. Covid closed our business, so I relied on unemployment for a year, then credit cards, and eventually public aid. Anxiety and chronic sciatica made it difficult to work. By chance suggestions from pain management and a mental health practitioner, I was encouraged and I pushed myself to go back to school. I graduated in May, magna cum laude, with my AA in Liberal Arts - Behavioral and Social Science.

At the start of my school journey, my son was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Diastolic Heart failure. He now has an internal defibrillator and needs quarterly visits to Loma Linda University Children's Hospital. Our home, with which my estranged husband's name is still on, needs repairs, and bills are piling up. (I only get $120 a month in child support and no alimony.) I am facing threats of utility shutoffs, overdue mortgage payments, and mounting credit card debt. My HOA is behind and has already charged a lien fee. I have no family or friends who can help financially, and I am doing my best to care for my son and our dogs, who also need their annual shots, vet visits, and licenses.

The funds raised will help us catch up on mortgage, HOA, and utility bills, support home repairs, provide for the dogs' vet visits and licenses, put food on the table, and cover gas for medical appointments for my son. My gratitude, hope, and tenacity help sustain me through these struggles. Life can be challenging, and sometimes, whether we want to or not, we need to ask for help. I know this is a temporary situation (of not having income) as I am continuing my education for two more years once I get into my BA program. School funds have been paying the way, but it is summer (which means it is not season in this desert community, making it even more difficult to find temp employment) and I won't get into my program till fall of 2027; though I am trying to get in in the Spring.

Thank you for your support!