Hello, my name is Ashlie and I am trying to rally support in raising enough money to get a new van for my family. We are a family of seven that use our car for everything; from taking our kids to and from school, their extracurricular activities during, after school hours going to both jobs.

                My old maroon van that carried us across the universe and back died in the parking lot of a used car dealership on May 31st 2025. My entire family was hoping and praying we could qualify for a loan to be able to afford a new and reliable vehicle that we could use and love like our last.

Unfortunately, due to lack of experience and unfamiliarity of being at a dealership, we were given false hope and promises we were taken advantage of. We got trapped into a monster and damn near criminal loan that if anyone could see would tell we would have better luck pushing our old van from place to place instead of trusting these people in giving us a new car. However, with lack of options and fear of losing our ONLY means of life, we agreed and made the worst mistake of our lives. We took home a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country and were full of glee for a small frame of time.

On September 7th we started hitting hurdles that would begin the end of our new car. It started with us having to completely replacing all four brakes and rotors. Merely a week after getting this ‘perfectly fine’ vehicle! On top of the new car loan and a doubled car insurance bill, I was not prepared to pay $800 dollars out of pocket. After asking for help from several family members and having friends replace certain pieces, we eventually got our Chrysler running again.

A month later on October 10th we were challenged with another fleet of replacing all four tires on the vehicle costing us another $800 dollars. At this point we are falling way behind on our bills. Rolling into November, we prayed that all of our troubles were behind us and we could start making our way to breathing again. Then on November 03rd, 20th, 30thand many more days of being stuck on the side of the road because our engine overheated. We needed all kinds of new parts for our heater hose but because it took us so long to figure out that we now have a cracked radiator that constantly needs antifreeze.

I know what you’re thinking, why didn’t we do any research of the car we were buying before we signed the loan and rolled out of the parking lot? Because I am too. However, I didn’t realize a used car dealership could sell you absolute garbage and get away with it! Plus, we don’t have any family support in Washington to ask these questions you would ask your parents before buying a car. And we have already burdened our friends enough that we thought for once we actually did something right.

Regardless, the absolute game changer happened on December 30th when a truck rear-ended me on the highway and totaled the car. I was hoping this nightmare would end with our insurance fighting for us until I realized that because of everything going on we were past due on the December payment and was dropped from the insurance. Leaving us with a huge loan, no car, and no coverage.

Involved in the accident was my three younger children Milena (age 9), Raelynn (age 8), and Liam (age 6). Milena, my angel who recently just recovered from having her appendix removed. My poor Raelynn who has severe anxiety. Liam, my only son, suffered the worst from the accident. He had been thrashed into the side of the car and left with scratches all down the side of his face. I too am suffering from shoulder pain but I was most worried about my kids more than myself as we sat in the hospital that night. My two older kids Jena (age 11) and Ana (age 18) and my husband were mortified hearing me calling to tell them we were all in a car accident, now waiting to be seen in the hospital.

We are setting up this GoFundMe in high hopes and prayers that we help our family come up with the funds to get out of this horrible debt we have on our now totaled Chrysler Town & Country, and put my kids and I in a more reliable family van. Our goal might seem high but we are putting it in GOD’s hands that we can be in a way better situation to continue into 2026 off on a better foot!  

If you can offer anything at all, thank you so much in advance and if you can only give what you can, everything helps and is greatly appreciated. No contribution is too small, it is all a blessing.

If all you can do at this time is give us the time of day to read our story and if you can send it to all of your contacts we appreciate all the help to reach as many people as we can!

I am ever so thankful, and may you and your loved ones have a happy new year.