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Lifting Up Kristen and Kendal: A Call for Care

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Dear Friends and Community,

My name is Rhiannon (she/her), and I’m reaching out on behalf of my dear friends Kendal (she/her) and Kristen (they/them), who are navigating an incredibly difficult chapter in their lives. Throughout my own challenges, Kendal and Kristen have shown up for me with unwavering care and support. Now, it’s my turn to show up for them—and I’m inviting you to join me.

Kristen, a passionate and compassionate advocate, spent years working in supportive housing just outside Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES). In this role, they provided care and connection to individuals who have been systematically pushed to the margins of society.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, the DTES was especially hard-hit. Already strained resources were stretched to their limits, and frontline workers like Kristen faced immense challenges. The lack of information about COVID-19, inefficient support systems, and disruptions to supply chains intensified the existing opioid epidemic. The poisoning of the local drug supply created a perfect storm of stress and trauma.

For Kristen, the toll of this work was profound. Living as a non-binary person during a time of rising anti-trans hate only compounded the difficulties they faced. By 2022, after years of constant pressure and heartbreak, Kristen was unable to continue working in their role.

Determined to create a fresh start and establish a sustainable income, Kristen poured their heart and entrepreneurial spirit into launching a cleaning business, striving to build a new path forward. However, inadequate support from WorkSafeBC and a strained healthcare system left them without the care they desperately needed. Kristen has been receiving limited psychiatric support and medications that not only failed to help but exacerbated their challenges.

On the day that ultimately led to them being hospitalized, a psychiatrist told Kristen that they would never get better and that the deep despair they were experiencing would not end. This devastating message added to the immense strain, and Kristen is now in the hospital.

Kendal has been by Kristen’s side every step of the way, but this journey has taken a significant financial and emotional toll on their family. The societal systems meant to care for caregivers, first responders, and frontline workers have failed them, leaving families like Kendal and Kristen’s to shoulder the burden of deep systemic inequities.

Now is the time for us—friends, family, and community—to step in and help ease that burden. Your donations will help cover everyday expenses, medical costs, and provide a cushion for Kendal and Kristen to focus on recovery and healing.

Our society must do better to care for those who dedicate their lives to helping others, and this is one small way we can collectively make a difference. Kristen has spent their life giving to others, and now it’s our turn to show up for them and Kendal.

Please consider donating, sharing their story, or offering words of encouragement during this incredibly challenging time. Every gesture of support matters and makes a difference.
Thank you for taking the time to read their story and for being part of their community.

With gratitude,
Rhiannon
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Donations 

  • Josh Stone
    • $100
    • 17 d
  • Anonymous
    • $20
    • 2 mos
  • Amanda Zastre
    • $50
    • 2 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $15
    • 2 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $10
    • 2 mos
Donate

Organizer and beneficiary

Rhiannon Bennett
Organizer
Delta, BC
Kendal Blacker
Beneficiary

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