I am the mother of two wonderful kiddos, one of whom is the subject of this fundraiser. His name is Joey and he very much wants to go on a school trip with his band class, that we have to figure out how to afford.

Joey is on the spectrum, and we very much owe it to him starting band class at school a few years ago, which helped him come out of his shell and find a certain sense of confidence and ability to socially communicate better than he ever used to be able to do.

He went from being very shy and introverted, and very unable to communicate his feelings, to becoming a young man who is able to share his feelings clearly and calmly, and navigate social situations with much more confidence.

Before he joined the band at school, he had only one friend and was often picked on for various reasons. Now he has a handful of friends, is able to advocate for himself a lot better, and we've overcome a lot of obstacles that autism presents.

And then we were presented with the opportunity for him to go on this trip with the band class, where they're going to go to Disneyland in February.

I was genuinely shocked at the cost for him to go and that we need to have a little over $350 ready by the 27th of this month for the deposit, and I felt heartbroken when, even though I told him we would figure out a way to make it happen, he decided to tell his teacher that he wasn't sure he should turn in his permission slip because he worried it would create too much financial hardship on our family.

I wish more than anything that he never had to worry about that kind of thing. I know in some ways it is humbling and that as he grows up he'll hopefully appreciate things more. Though I would do most anything to make it so he didn't have to worry about money at his age. I grew up constantly worried about it, and it shouldn't be something we should have to worry about when we're young.

I asked him to have some faith in our community, in me, and in the magic of the world. And so I am hoping you might be willing to contribute what you can, to make a wish come true for Joey and give him even more reason to stick with school and believe in life's miracles.

I always wanted to take him and his older sibling to Disneyland and on many other adventures. Yet despite working multiple jobs and doing what I can to save here and there, I've not been able to manifest it yet.

And I have such very fond memories of having gotten to go on a few school trips when I was his age. It's so very different to go with your friends from school than it is to go with family, and he deserves it. He survived our family going through homelessness and a lot of other emotional roller coasters from adults all around him. He has always gotten the highest of compliments from his teachers and other adults around him about his kindness towards others and his general good behavior.

He isn't perfect and has things he's working on (like we all do), but I think overall he deserves to get to go on this trip and I'm praying the funds will come together in time.

Thank you for giving anything you can, and passing on this fundraiser even if you're not able to donate anything to it