Help the Retting Family Move Home to Fort Wayne

After nearly a decade in Virginia, our little family is moving back to my hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

This move is about time — time with my mom while we still have it, time for our son to grow up near his grandmother, and time to build a stable, supportive life close to family. After a recent visit, it became clear: we need to be home.

We’ve found a home in Fort Wayne that feels perfect for us, and we’re planning to move by August 1. Jake has strong job leads in the music industry, and I’m actively seeking work in hospitality — ideally in casual fine or fine dining (open to management if the fit is right). We’re also looking for affordable childcare or preschool options for our son.

We’ve been working hard to make this transition happen. We’re using everything we have to manage two months of rent here in Virginia, moving logistics, and a recent $2,400 car repair — and we’re doing it. But the cost of everything hitting at once will leave us with little to no safety net while we get our feet wet in new jobs and new routines.

We’re setting this fundraiser goal at $3,500, which would help cover our first month’s rent and security deposit on our new home — a huge weight off our shoulders as we take this leap.

We can make it work without help — but any support, in any amount, would make a meaningful difference. Whether it’s a donation, a share, or a kind word, it all helps more than we can express.

This isn’t easy for us. We’ve never asked for help like this before, and it’s not something we take lightly. But we are learning that there’s strength in asking when something really matters — and this move does.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping us move forward with love, purpose, and just a little less weight on our backs.

With deep gratitude,

Elizabeth, Jake, and Z’ev Retting