Dear Friends, Family, and Community,

We are reaching out with heavy hearts to ask for your support for Esther Bates, my beloved 83-year-old mother and member of our community who is facing a serious and overwhelming housing crisis.

Esther is currently dealing with a severe bed bug infestation throughout her home. At her age, this situation has made her living environment unsafe, stressful, and increasingly difficult to manage. Resolving this issue requires full-home professional treatment and remediation—far beyond what basic cleaning can fix.

Because Esther is living on a fixed income, the cost of properly addressing this issue is out of reach. Without immediate intervention, she also risks having to replace much of her furniture and essential household items.

Our goal is to raise $15,000 to help restore Esther’s home to a safe, clean, and dignified living space. These funds will go directly toward:

• Professional whole-home extermination and treatment

• Follow-up services to ensure the infestation is fully resolved

• Replacement of heavily affected furniture and bedding due to the severity of the infestation or protection of essential furniture and bedding

• Laundry, sanitation, and restoration of personal belongings

• Supplies and storage needed during the cleanup process

Every donation—no matter the size—goes directly toward helping Esther regain a safe place to live. If you are unable to contribute, sharing this fundraiser would mean just as much.

Thank you for your kindness, compassion, and support for Esther during this time.

With gratitude,

Booker Bates