Dear Friends,

It is with great humility and deep contemplation as to whether this is the right request to make, that I share my family’s need with you. I have always believed in the importance of giving more than you take and have worked very hard over the course of the last 20 years to remain self-supporting and independent. So trust me when I say I have left no stone unturned and am treating this as my absolute last resort. As it stands, I have found myself homeless and desperately seeking employment. I am embarrassed to admit it, but I had to sleep in a storage unit the last couple nights just to avoid being outside all night.

I’ve spent many years deeply involved in the East Sacramento, River Park, Sierra Oaks, and Arden Park communities—volunteering at Sierra Oaks School, coaching youth soccer for Sierra Oaks and East Sac, hosting countless children from the neighborhood, and supporting school and community events. I’ve always believed in showing up for others in times of need, even taking in another mother’s two children last year for several months while she navigated an unexpected crisis.

Sadly, the past few years have brought unexpected and compounding hardships. After a difficult divorce—during which I gave my former husband a large sum of money to ensure a peaceful settlement—I attempted to sell my home to start fresh. I hired a realtor with a flawless record who almost immediately acted unethically and met me at her home for a showing nearby while visibly intoxicated and partially nude. When I tried to politely cancel the contract in the days that followed (and was willing to pay the cancellation fee), she refused, preventing me from working with another agent. As a result, the home fell into foreclosure, forcing me to sell at a significant loss just one day before auction.

Adding to that, an electrician I hired for a short job as the close of escrow neared, turned out to be unlicensed after all and used the opportunity to begin squatting in the home with friends and family. When he finally left, he stripped the property of nearly everything—appliances, furniture, even personal belongings. I am still seeking reimbursement and exploring legal counsel for both situations.

At the same time, my support system completely collapsed with the divorce as my family disagreed with my decision and withdrew their support entirely, leaving me to navigate this alone. The ongoing custody struggles have deeply affected my children and I—especially my oldest son, who fell into severe depression.

For a period of time, I coped poorly with the pain. But today, I’m clear-minded, mentally stable, and determined to rebuild.

I’m temporarily staying with friends while actively applying for jobs. I have a strong professional background, but the hiring process in my field takes time. In the meantime, I’ve been trying to supplement income through DoorDash and selling on Poshmark, but it hasn’t been enough to cover even basic necessities. I’m currently behind on a small $250 car payment and struggling to keep insurance for myself and my son, who may need short-term mental health treatment to help us heal.

I want to be appropriate and tactful in sharing this. The finer details are far too much to put into a public forum, but I hope this conveys the urgency of my situation without causing discomfort or disrespect to anyone involved, including my ex.

Please know that I’ve run myself ragged trying to leverage every resource and offer of help I could find within the community—churches, organizations, and personal connections—but so far, no one has been able to follow through with the financial support needed to stabilize this situation.

If you feel moved to help—even with a small contribution—it would directly cover essential expenses while I secure employment. If anyone prefers, I’m also open to short-term loans that I would gladly repay once I’m back on stable footing.

i’ve been struggling for months, sometimes unable to drive to appointments due to lack of gas money (I ride the bus when I can) or a couple times I simply went without eating for a day or two in order to allocate whatever I did have to my son to keep life as normal as possible for him. I share that only to say that I’ve waited a long time in deciding whether or not to reach out to my fellow moms. It isn’t easy for anyone right now and with all of the fraud running rampant online, I didn’t want there to be any question about the validity of this request.

I’m sharing this privately and asking for discretion so this doesn’t become gossip or cause harm to others.

Thank you for your kindness and understanding. I truly believe brighter days are ahead, and I will pay this forward when I’m able.

With gratitude,

Your fellow mother in need