Kassie's baby is all grown up (& needs our help)
Donation protected
Update….Thanks to the generosity of friends, family, and Emria’s impressive sense of will & determination…she is no longer homeless!
With that being said…while she does now finally have a roof over her head, she has very little beyond that. She has recently started working a 2nd job at Subway (the girl is a go-getter!)...but given that she was essentially “starting from nothing”, she still has a long way to go in terms of turning her empty apartment into a “home”. Anything you might be able to contribute (even if it is just a kind word of encouragement) is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
CURRENT NEEDS: The following are links to “wish lists” on Amazon with items she is still in need of and/or hoping to one day be able to purchase. Any items purchased from any of the following Amazon wish lists will be sent/delivered directly to Emria at her new address.
- Kitchen Goods: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/35480R35N0UK9?ref_=wl_share
- Bathroom Goods: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/BWJPYPP6YBPU?ref_=wl_share
- Miscellaneous Home Goods: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/VTUGEHTY86TT?ref_=wl_share
- Cleaning Supplies: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3I2PDU7QPJSNK?ref_=wl_share
- Laundry Supplies: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/206BB8IJ2SN3X?ref_=wl_share
- Bedroom: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2IM8QOD9MHWL6?ref_=wl_share
- Organization/Storage: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2HQFOEEII4NUC?ref_=wl_share
- Personal/Hygiene: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2M18AKIE8I3GM?ref_=wl_share
- Furniture/Larger Household Items: Emria is open to second-hand/used/thrifted items (especially for larger items that would be difficult or expensive to ship…but her address is available upon request if you’d prefer to mail items directly).
If you’d like to contribute monetarily instead, contributions can be made through any of the following:
Zelle: Zelle® | A fast and easy way to send and receive money (zellepay.com)
- Emria’s User name/account: [email redacted]
- Fund transfer time: immediate
- Fees: none
Facebook Pay: Sending Money With Messenger | Meta Pay (facebook.com)
- Emria’s User name/account: Pleasance Casey https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088171775315
- Fund transfer time: between 3-5 business days
- Fees: none
Cashapp: Cash App - Do more with your money ()
- Emria’s User name/account: $vailitcasey
- Fund transfer time: between 1 - 3 business days
- Fees: Cashapp will charge Emria a processing fee of up to 1.75% for immediate fund transfers
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/965041c3
- Fund transfer time: between 2-5 business days
- Fees: GoFundMe charges a processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (deducted from each contribution).
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My name is Jayda, and I have created this GoFundMe to help support my niece, Emria Pleasance Casey.
As most of you know, Emria lost her mother to suicide in 2011. Kassie did not have life insurance, so a trust fund had been created at the time for Emria (to be funded with Kassie's social security death benefits). The trust fund (and social security death benefits) were meant to serve as a little "nest egg" for Emria to help her get established or put towards college once she reached adulthood.
Unfortunately, things continued to get harder for Emria in the years following her mother's death. Her father lost parental rights and Emria was eventually placed with a family member in Florida in 2019 (which wasn't a very good or healthy situation, resulting in her "running away" on a couple of occasions to try and escape). When she came of age and was finally able to freely leave, she tried to access the trust fund to get into her own place...but learned that the account had long since been closed (and no funds remained/all social security benefits had been spent by her guardians).
Despite it all...Emria is a survivor and a fighter...while most in her situation would likely think of themselves as a "victim" and/or feel like "giving up"...she is probably the most mature, resilient, and level-headed 18 year old I've ever known. Over the last 6 months, Emria has managed to hold down a full-time job with a convenience store (was even promoted to a manager role!), saved up enough money to buy a used car (from a combination of her work paychecks and from donating plasma as often as allowed), and is currently trying to save up enough money to be able to get into her own apartment...all of which she has accomplished while also being homeless (she has been sleeping on friend's couches, in the occasional hotel when she can afford it, and/or in her car).
Since I know that Emria would never think to ask anyone for help (as her goal is self-sufficiency)...the fact of the matter is that she NEEDS help right now. While we'll likely never be able to make up for the funds she should have received from her trust fund and from Kassie's Social Security death benefits...I know that Emria will be immensely grateful for any contributions to this GoFundMe account (and while I'm the one creating the fundraiser, all donations will go directly to Emria's bank account to ensure that the funds meant for her are delivered to her).
Here are the things the funds will be used for:
- Car repairs/mechanical work: She recently had to dip into both her "bill money" and "apartment move-in fund" for car repairs ($675 for brake work and a new battery)...but additional car repairs are needed to help keep her car running. She has a 2011 Chevy Impala that needs a new radiator fan (it keeps overheating)...and her car needs to be in good working condition, as it serves as both her mode of transportation to/from work, and as a place to sleep.
- Help with getting current on bills due to recent/unexpected car repair costs: Her car payment is $150/bi-weekly ($300/month), which she was unable to pay this last month on account of the recent/unexpected car repair costs (she didn't have enough money to both pay the $645 mechanic bill and the $300 car payment...and since she needs a car to both get to/from work and as a place to sleep until she gets into an apartment...she had to pay the mechanic the money in order to get the car back). She also currently does not have auto insurance, as she is unable to afford it at this time.
- First/last month's rent: She found a cute little 1-bedroom apartment (which she will be able to afford on her salary)...she has already been approved for the lease and has given them a $300 deposit....but will need to pay another $1255 (first & last) prior to the move-in date (which is tentatively set for this Thursday 8/17).
- Household goods & furniture: Given that she has been primarily living out of her car, she has very few possessions (and will essentially need everything one needs in a home, such as linens, towels, dishware/silverware/utensils, pots & pans, toiletries, cleaning supplies, various home goods, furniture, etc...)
- Food/Meals: She receives food stamp benefits, but given that she does not have anywhere to prepare or store food (i.e. no stove, no refrigerator)...she is primarily limited to "ready to eat" meals and/or fast food (meaning her food stamp money doesn't go as far as it would if she were able to buy actual groceries with a kitchen to prepare them in).
- Personal Care Items: Given that she has been homeless, she obtained a basic gym membership in order to have access to a shower and utilizes coin-op laundromats to clean her laundry. She also has 3 upcoming interviews (she is hoping to obtain a 2nd part-time job to help with money)...but currently only has 1 pair of shoes (which are only slip-on's and are falling apart).
- A bit of a financial safety-net: The ability to put a bit of money aside in a savings account for future/unexpected expenses...such as the recent car repair expenses that set her back.
Any help you are able to provide for Emria will be greatly appreciated; thank you in advance!
Organizer and beneficiary
Jayda Klingerman-Reed
Organizer
Lake Oswego, OR
Emria Casey
Beneficiary