Help Jen and her daughters rebuild after Hurricanes

Help Jen and Her Daughters Rebuild After Hurricanes

Hi, my name is Jen, and I’m a single mom to two beautiful girls, Nina (15) and Mila (8). A few months ago, I made the difficult decision to leave New Hampshire and move to Sarasota, Florida, to give my family a fresh start. I couldn’t afford the high cost of living in New England anymore, so I used the last of my savings to move us down here and rent a small apartment. I found a job waitressing at Ophelia’s on the Bay, and things were finally starting to look up for us.

But then, everything changed.

In September, Hurricane Helene hit, flooding the restaurant and shutting it down. Just when we thought we might get back to work, Hurricane Milton struck, leaving even more destruction in its wake. I am out of work with no income to support my daughters and keep a roof over our heads.

I’ve applied for any available resources and applied for disaster unemployment assistance—but that’s only $247 a week, and it hasn’t started yet. I’ve reached out to FEMA, but have heard nothing back. As a displaced worker, there’s just no emergency help for my situation.

I’m doing everything I can. I’ve applied to temp agencies and every job I can find, but right now, the opportunities are slim. I’m at my wit's end, and I’m turning to you, hoping for a miracle.

Any support you can give would mean the world to us. It would help us keep our apartment, pay for groceries, and make it through until I can get back to work. I’ve never been in a situation like this before, and it’s incredibly humbling to ask for help. But right now, my daughters and I just need a bit of kindness to make it through this storm.

My girls and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for reading our story and considering helping us during this challenging time. Every little bit counts and means more to us than words can express.

With gratitude, Jen, Nina, and Mila