My daughter and I have always done our best to get by on our own, working hard and supporting each other through thick and thin. Recently, our only vehicle suddenly stopped running, and it turned our lives upside down. We both work as servers at Pizza Hut—she covers the day shift while I babysit her two-year-old son, and then we switch so I can work the evening shift. Without a car, even the simplest things like getting to work, running errands, or making it to appointments have become nearly impossible. We saved every dime we could for months, doing without anything that wasn’t absolutely necessary, and managed to put together a couple thousand dollars to buy another vehicle. We searched everywhere for a good deal, and when we finally found one, it seemed almost too good to be true. Unfortunately, it was—a scammer took all our money, leaving us devastated and back at square one. We have no one to rely on but each other, and I can’t help but feel like I let my daughter down, even though she never lets me think that for a second.

Having a dependable vehicle would change everything for us. It would mean we could get to work reliably, take care of my grandson, and make it to the appointments and meetings that are so important for our health and sobriety. Both my daughter and I have been clean for almost four years, and staying connected to our support network is crucial. Right now, even doing laundry is a challenge since we can’t get our hookups installed at home and have to rely on laundromats. Getting a ride that often just isn’t possible, and it’s caused real struggles for our family.

I’ve never been someone who asks for help, but I just can’t do this alone. Any support—whether it’s a donation, a prayer, or even just a kind thought—would mean the world to us. We would be grateful from the absolute depths of our hearts, and I promise that we’ll pay it forward whenever we can. My daughter especially has a heart for giving, and we both believe in helping others whenever possible. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for considering helping us get back on our feet. Even the smallest gesture would make a huge difference in our lives.