Help Lily 7, Max 6, & James 2, out of homelessness

Happy Holidays! My name is Alan and I'm trying to raise money for a wonderful family I met just 3 days ago. The 5 of them have been living in their SUV for 8 months. If you like, you can read their full story below. Or just skip that step and donate right now!

This fundraiser has 3 goals:

1. I am lending them a solid 1978 RV, but it does need new paperwork and a few repairs. The priority, though, is getting the generator rewired so the fridge and heater work.

2. Get them housed quickly by funding the security deposit and first month's rent on their next apartment.

3. Help them buy the basics--nutritious food, clothing for the kids, and eventually (with your help!) maybe even some IKEA furniture.

THEIR STORY

At the grocery store on Thursday, I saw a family in the cereal aisle. I complimented the parents on how funny and cute their 3 kids were. Then they all started making silly noises—vying for my attention.

Making small talk, I casually asked, “where do y’all live?” The kids immediately went quiet. The parents kinda looked at each other and then back at me, quite blankly. Something was up. “I’ll wait for you guys outside the store, and maybe we can talk more,” I said.

Outside, they explained to me that the 5 of them have been living inside their SUV for 8 months. I saw their Xterra, sporting an impossible number of those black crates with yellow lids stacked up on the roof.

Sarah (the mom) is a culinary chef recovering from long-COVID. They got evicted last year after she became too fatigued to work her demanding job. She stays “home” in the SUV, caring for their 2-year-old, James.

George (the dad) works 40 hours as a pool cleaner and will soon start working 20 more at a distribution warehouse now that Sarah's strength is finally starting to improve.

Lily (7) is a particularly good child. She does well in school and she has maturely taken on the role of second mom, helping raise her brothers as Sarah recovers. Lily acts and speaks far older than she should—she's strong.

Max (6) and James (Jimbo, 2) are both clearly intelligent. They're both also cheeky little troublemakers. Max shows deliberate curiosity about the world, always asking questions. And Jimmy has a remarkable vocabulary for his age.

They are all so respectful and polite, and aside from Jimbo's occasional terrible-2s tantrum, they're very well-behaved and always having fun together.

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So back in October, I bought that 1978 RV mentioned above. Outside the grocery store, I offered to show it to them. Maybe they could rent it for whatever is affordable? Win-win because I could stop making monthly payments for storing it.

They moved in this weekend and the kids quickly won my heart. George and Sarah are good people and loving parents. Already, I trust them completely. They have (very reluctantly) agreed to borrow the RV as long as needed, rent-free.

A couple weeks ago, the kids were crying because they had no address—how would Santa know how to find them? I truly enjoyed buying and wrapping each of them a couple toys “from Santa.” James is obsessed with Paw Patrol :)

They are on the waitlist at any place that could house them for miles. Once George starts this second job, the family will finally be making enough to rent a small apartment, but they'll still need a leg-up to get started!

No child belongs on the street. If you’ve read this far, please consider helping Lily, Max, and James live a more predictable and less scary life. As always, any amount is helpful and will be deeply appreciated. These kids have already shown me immense gratitude for their “new” RV. Thank you.