Dear friends, family, and compassionate strangers,

We are reaching out with immense urgency to ask for your immediate support for Mom (for privacy and especially safety, names will not be used) and her three brave children. A 6-year-old girl, a 3-year-old boy, and a 20-month-old boy. They recently escaped a terrifying domestic violence situation and are safe for now(physically speaking), but they fled with only the clothes on their backs. The children were placed in the care of paternal grandparents who demonstrated physical abuse towards the mother years before her husband. Adding to the urgency, the children's father is scheduled for release from incarceration in just three short weeks. An upcoming court date in just four weeks can be the break they desperately need with the right attorney and with housing secured, making their immediate relocation over 150 miles away and establishment of a safe home absolutely critical. I'd like to share more of their story to stress the importance of their need for our help, hope, love, and support:

Having survived the terror of domestic violence, a new nightmare began when she sought help from the very system meant to protect her and children. Reporting the abuse led to an unimaginable consequence: the removal of her children. Stripped of her safety and then her family, an illegal eviction as a direct result, a burglarized storage unit with all of their furniture, keepsakes, and irreplaceable possessions, significant decrease in income of the maternal family business as a direct result, the abuser's theft of her vehicle was just the first layer of devastation. Each hard-earned dollar saved over the last eight months for a new car felt like a small victory, only to discover the new to her vehicle too was stolen. Her conscience wouldn't allow her to keep it, a testament to her unwavering integrity even amidst profound injustice. Finally, another vehicle, a symbol of renewed hope, was sabotaged, leaving her stranded with a broken axle and thousands of dollars lost. The weight of knowing her children depended on her as the only constant in their lives, coupled with the inability to provide safe transportation, was another crushing blow for a woman who had already endured so much. Yet, through it all – the relentless stress, the profound pain, the suffocating sadness – she has maintained an unwavering sobriety of ten years. Just as any survivor of domestic violence, she carries the invisible wounds of PTSD, for which she is prescribed but reluctantly taken, anxiety medication. But instead of offering support, CPS seems intent on finding fault, subjecting her to repeated drug tests that she consistently passes every one, a cruel irony given her decade of sobriety. Her current homelessness, a direct consequence of the financial and emotional turmoil that has relentlessly battered her, is now being used against her. Despite a harrowing rescue of her children from an imminently deadly situation – their father driving while clearly disoriented and impaired – the very act of protecting them became the justification for their removal by case worker who has been removed from the case. Reunification remains out of reach if she cannot secure a safe two bedroom (at minimum) apartment/house/condo, another heart-wrenching consequence of a system that seems determined to punish her for the abuse she endured. Adding to this betrayal, the paid attorney she entrusted to fight for her children proved to be yet another obstacle. Instead of the zealous advocate she desperately needed, he seemed unenthusiastic and often aligned with the original CPS caseworker, even suggesting she concede to accusations in the petition that were demonstrably false – accusations stating she was the supervising adult during events when she was not. The actual caregiver has even offered to testify to this truth, but to no avail. As her friend that awakens to the sounds of the dam of tears bursting open from the unmatched force of a mother's profound sadness night after night, it is my duty as a woman, a mom, a friend, a Christian and simply as a human being to help where I can. Will you help too?

In fact, the sheer volume and unbelievable nature of these injustices often leave Mom herself in disbelief. It is the very reason she has hesitated to allow our help. Fear of cruel disbelief and more false accusations. Were it not for the unwavering support and firsthand witness of one steadfast friend to these mind-bending events, she might doubt her own reality. How, one must ask, can such a cascade of injustice befall one woman, with even her own legal representation seemingly working against her, to the point where the events defy belief while the very people that taught such violence in front of her children are caring for them? Yet, despite the relentless onslaught of heartbreak and the profound failures of the systems designed to safeguard her family, her spirit remains unbroken. Giving up, she knows, is a luxury she cannot afford. She refuses to even entertain the thought.

The courage it took for Mom to make this life-saving decision cannot be overstated. They are now facing the daunting challenge of rebuilding their lives in a new city they know no one, while also bracing for a family court battle up against a cruel, corrupt, abusive system to ensure the safe return of her children. This dual challenge creates significant emotional and financial strain.

It's important to understand the serious realities of domestic violence:

* Escalation: Domestic violence often escalates in frequency and severity over time, making escape a matter of life and death.

* Long-term Impact on Children: Children who witness domestic violence can suffer significant emotional and psychological trauma that can have lasting effects.

* Increased Risk Post-Separation: Leaving an abusive relationship can be the most dangerous time for a survivor, as the abuser may feel a loss of control. Putting as many miles and hours between she and her abuser become even more important.

* What It Looks Like: Domestic violence inflicts injury much deeper than bruising and blood wounds. Coercive control, financial, verbal, and emotional abuse cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Your generous contribution, no matter the size, will provide a lifeline for this family. It is important to a reluctant Mom that the generous angels who donate know exactly what the funds raised will go directly towards:

* Urgent Relocation & Immediate Needs: Covering the costs of quickly securing a safe new home including application fees, renters insurance, the security deposit and first month's rent plus utilities, a PO Box to protect their address, as well as providing essential items like clothing, toiletries, and food. ($6,500)

* Household Items: Mom insisted I mention "new" isn't a requirement as they will happily accept second-hand furniture donations, especially hand-me-downs for all three children's beds & bedroom furniture and a dinner table where they can share meals, say Grace, and appreciate what they have; each other! Monetary donations will help fill the gaps and cover other essential household necessities. ($4,000) Did I mention her storage unit was burglarized?!

* Transportation: A safe and reliable vehicle to get the children to and from school, daycare, doctors' appointments, therapy, church, and Mom back & forth to jobs. ($4,000)

* Children's Needs: Providing school supplies, books, trains & cars, art supplies, and items to help them feel more secure and comfortable in their new environment. ($1,000)

* Legal Fees: To help Mom secure adequate legal representation to navigate family court proceedings to protect her children & begin proceedings in divorce court ($7,500-8,000)

* Ongoing Support: Therapy and counseling for Mom and her children to help them heal and recover from the trauma they have experienced and to cope with the stress of relocation and legal challenges. ($1,000)

We are committed to keeping you informed of our progress and will provide updates as we reach key milestones that YOU have helped to make possible for this family to rebuild their lives.

Please, I urge you to act quickly. I challenge you to stand with me, behind this brave mom who fought for her life, refusing to give up on her babies to show her that we won't give up on her! Please consider donating and/or sharing this campaign widely with your network. Time is of the essence. The urgency of their situation cannot be stressed enough. Your kindness and generosity will provide a critical safety net and hope for a brighter, safer future for this loving family of four.

Wouldn't you rather donate and support a cause for this family to rebuild rather than donate for the burial of the mother to three small children? That is the reality for this mom and her children. (It is the reality for 1 in 4 women in the U.S. and 1 in 3 women globally who experience serious physical or sexual violence.)

Thank you from the bottom of their healing hearts for your compassion and swift action.

Sincerely,

M & her 3 little bears

Pictures are animated and cropped to protect the privacy and safety of this family. The handwritten letter is an actual letter written by the daughter about her mom.