Support Kimberly's Journey to Independence

My name is Kimberly Harvey (formerly Steiner), mother of 3 and grandmother of 5. I am a domestic abuse survivor of a 28-year marriage and I am in desperate need of major help.

I have been free from abuse for over a year now, but so much remains difficult. Throughout my recovery from abuse this past year, I have been faced with the same issue: reliable transportation. The truck I am driving needs a new transmission and fuel pump. I can't afford this, so I am asking for help.

I have goals I am trying to meet:

1. Get to college. I am enrolled to start in the fall (criminal justice). I don't want to ever have to depend on anyone again.

2. Secure extra income because I will not make it if I don't.

3. Get back into therapy. (PTSD doesn't heal itself)

In order to reach these short-term goals, I have to have reliable transportation. At this moment, I am living day to day and not knowing if today will be the day it all comes to a stop. It's very hard to make any plans or moves when there is so much uncertainty.

I will try to sum up as much of my story as I can as I think it is needed to fully understand the gravity of the situation.

On March 24, 2024, after decades of every abuse you can imagine, I found out through my own children that he was sexually abusing a minor he was teaching karate to. He had already moved out of my place at this time. My sons turned him in and now he is in jail, indicted on 3 counts of sexual battery against a juvenile and 3 counts of child exploitation. When he went to jail, he made sure I lost access to everything: all accounts, vehicles, storage units, etc.

Then, my transportation woes began in May 2024.I hydroplaned into a semi on I-65 , causing my car to roll over 4 times. I came out with 2 scratches and a weird haircut. I lost none of my personal belongings from my car and no one else was hurt. That was my only vehicle. I did not have another way to go. So, when I filed for divorce and petitioned for one of his cars (he was in jail, his landlord was hiding his stuff for him). Finally, in October, I was awarded a car he had financed and refused to pay for. I had that car for 4 days before they repossessed it.

I was without a vehicle from May 2024 to January 2025. During that time I was lucky enough to have one of adult children living with me and was able to get rides from him most of the time. In January my living situation changed when he moved out, so I don't have the same options available as last time. In February 2025, I was finally able to get my divorce finalized and I was awarded his truck. My plan was to sell the truck and get something small for me. However, the truck came with mechanical issues I have to fix before I can do anything. As I said before, It needs a new transmission and fuel pump.

Currently I am still driving the truck, I have no other choice at this time.

There have been so many roadblocks for me, but I've remained fairly optimistic, trying to turn everything I encounter into some kind of blessing. I thought long about it and maybe the blessing I am supposed to get from my current situation is humility. That is why I decided to ask for help in a more public way. Asking for help is tricky, not because I am prideful, but because my abuse brainwashed and confused me.

There have been so many people that have helped me along the way this year and it is nothing short of beautiful. I remain forever grateful.