Hi, my name is Sydnee, and I’m a single mother to four beautiful children — a 14-year-old girl, a 9-year-old boy, a 1-year-old girl, and a 9-month-old baby girl. I never imagined I would be in a position where I’d need to ask for help, but life has brought us to a place where I have no choice but to reach out.

In June and July, I went through severe domestic violence that changed our lives forever. By the end of August, I fled with my children to protect them and myself. In the midst of escaping, I lost my job, and everything I had worked for seemed to fall apart at once. When I tried to secure a new place to live, I found out about an old debt on my credit from two years ago — something I never even knew existed. That debt has now become the barrier between my children and a safe, warm home.

I’ve contacted every organization I can find. One was able to help with $3,000, but they can’t assist further until the entire amount is covered. So here I am, working two jobs, doing everything in my power to take care of my kids — all while my 1-year-old has appointments after her new autism diagnosis. I’m juggling work, motherhood, grief, fear, and hope all at once.

Despite all of this, we’ve been sleeping in the car. My parents help with watching the kids when I work, but they live in senior housing and can’t take us in. Every day is a balancing act — diapers, formula, winter clothes, gas for work — and as hard as I try, saving enough to reach $5,000 by January 1st feels impossible alone.

I am fighting every single day to give my kids a chance at stability and safety again. I’m not looking for a handout — I’m praying for a lifeline.

If you are able to help in any way, whether through donating or sharing, you are truly helping a family climb out of a moment of crisis and into a future we’re desperately trying to reach.

Your kindness could be the reason my children sleep in a bed again instead of a cold car seat.

From the bottom of my heart — thank you for seeing us, for caring, and for giving us hope when we need it the most.