Mom Got the Shaft

Samantha Irwin is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

To protect privacy I'm relying on people who know me and are generous, helpful, and understand the need for privacy. Here's the story.

I casually know an older woman, we'll call her Martha. Martha has had a bit of a rough go of it the last five years with her husband dying, having to move to a different state, being on a VERY fixed income, and then dealing with an increase of health challenges. Add to health challenges which make walking painful, no longer being able to drive age, not being super great with tech, and strained family relationships.

It's been downhill. In I come to her life to find her kid and wife, with whom she was living, having moved out from around her. Yes, you heard correctly. They left their ma.

Take that in for a moment. Let it sink in.

There are always three sides to a story, his, hers, and then reality. I'm under no starry eyed judgement that 'Martha' is 100% a victim (honestly, her behaviors include learned helplessness and hopelessness which I imagine contribute to the decline in family relations).

Nevertheless, we're not dwelling - we're solving!

I got her into some temporary lodging, connected (LITERALLY drinking from the firehose) with social service agencies where she lives, hired folks to help with her belongings, and got meals-on-wheels delivering to her.

She was connected with many of the amazing social services people and in process, but it's slow. Keeping track of the different agencies, the contact people, what they do, where 'Martha' is in the timeline, following up, applying for housing, etc. is an exercise in extreme organization. I'm organized and it's a challenge for me.

Kudos to all the social agency people who work hard every day to serve their communities.

It's eye opening.

How one person, who is left to their own accord, living on such a limited budget, can quickly go haywire.

Exhausted in bed that first week of helping Martha, I threw up my prayer and said:

"Lord, how can I help this woman? There's SO MUCH."

Immediately the answer came to my head: GoFundMe

I realized how a tiny amount such as $5,000 would make a WORLD of difference for this woman, paying her bills, application fees for housing, moving expenses, and having the deposit money available when she secures housing.

I also thought how this is a drop in the bucket for many people.
I also thought how this is where people put their money where their mouth is - whether a Christian, atheist, or agnostic.

This is community.

I'm asking two things:

Please Make a Donation
Please Share with Your Sphere of Influence (encourage them to donate!)

My goal is a measly $5,000 in one week by 08.24.21.

Thank you SO MUCH.

Samantha

(Connect if you have questions or resources. Thanks! Photo is me so you know I'm a real person, not a scammer! Check with your friend who passed this link to you. I'm legit.)