Hi friends, most of you know me, but if not — I’m Marin. And one thing about me: I love my ’96 Astro Van. I bought her last October after months of saving and hard work, and she’s been essential not only for my everyday life but also for my job at a vintage furniture store, where moving pieces is a big part of how I make a living.

Last month, while on a road trip with my brother who was visiting, my van was totaled in a hit-and-run by someone driving a stolen car in Seattle. My van was parked, and this happened while we were out and about, so thankfully, my brother and I were not hurt — and I’m so beyond grateful for that. However, the van was left completely undrivable, and things only went downhill from there.

When we returned to where we’d parked the van, in the short span of just three hours, it was gone! Suddenly, we were stranded in Seattle at 10 p.m., assuming my van — which we had been road-tripping and camping in — had been stolen. The reality? The police had ordered it to be towed after the crash… apparently without thinking it was worth contacting me about. Not even when I called to report it missing! By the next morning, I finally tracked it down (thanks only to my GPS), only to be greeted with a $600 tow bill — climbing higher every 12 hours. And of course, since I wasn’t in the vehicle, my insurance won’t touch the situation, and with the driver never identified, there’s no one to hold responsible.

The aftermath has been a blur of expenses — rental cars to get home and back to Seattle, tow fees, lost workdays, endless phone calls with police, courts, DMVs, insurance, mechanics, and body shops. I drained my savings just trying to navigate the chaos. After weighing all options, repairing my van ($4,700 to the body shop, $600 to my AMAZING mechanic) is still more realistic than buying another one outright — but either way, the costs are overwhelming and continue to affect my ability to work.

I’ve hesitated to share this GoFundMe, since asking for help in this way is outside my comfort zone. But at this point, I am humbled and overwhelmed by this ongoing situation, and I’ve had to face the reality that I can’t move forward on my own.

If you’re able to contribute, it would mean the world to me. Truly — any amount helps and brings me closer to getting back on my feet. Thank you for reading, for caring, and for supporting me through this.

With love and gratitude,

Marin