My name is Fernanda. Many of you know me as @lenubienne on social media. I typically amplify other crowdfunding requests across various platforms, but in rare cases like this one, I am using my platforms to crowd directly for a wonderful family who wishes to remain anonymous. Natalie* is recently divorced and for the last 13 years, was a kind and caring stay-at-home mom and wife. During the lockdown, Natalie's husband began working from home but was eventually laid off, and he refused to take on any new roles that did not pay the same or more than what he made at his former place of employment. Natalie took on paid babysitting and part-time retail work to help make ends meet, but when the family's savings began to dry up, her still-unemployed husband started drinking in excess and became physically and verbally abusive to Natalie and their two children, ages 9 and 5.

One day last fall, while her husband was away from home, Natalie fled to a shelter with their two children and has not looked back since. Thanks to community programs, the kindness of strangers, and a divorce lawyer friend, Natalie has since gotten a restraining order, a divorce, and moved to a new city with full custody of their children. She found full-time employment with benefits when the kids returned to school, but her husband recently found out where she and the kids live, making their lives miserable. He showed up drunk at her home and kicked the front door in, but even after being arrested for violating the no-contact order, he was out on bond in 48 hours and has not stopped trying to find her and the children. She deleted all of her socials, so he resorts to calling her friends (myself included) and family at all hours from random phone numbers and makes social media accounts to lie to anyone who will listen about how Natalie is a bad mother. Her ex believes that even though he physically (and repeatedly) harmed his family, ~he~ is the real victim because she "kidnapped" their children.

Since the break-in, Natalie has been staying in hotels and shelters and has to move again to stay safe, which is very hard to do in general, but even more so when you lose your sole source of income because your abusive ex-husband won't stop calling your place of employment. The money raised will go towards one month of rent in the amount of $1,850, a security deposit of $925, and gas money and food for her and the littles. No donation amount is too small nor too big, and I thank you in advance for any and all help.

Please feel free to share this with your networks, and you can reach out to me directly on social media if you would like to donate tangible goods like furniture or clothing. I also have cashapp $lenubienne and venmo @lenubienne if you prefer to donate that way. Please use "for Natalie" in the memo. Thank you in advance, and remember, you do not have to suffer in silence. There is a way out, and help is available. https://www.thehotline.org/ If you’re concerned your internet usage might be monitored, call the hotline at 800.799.SAFE (7233).

*pseudonym to keep her ex-husband from finding this fundraiser