Support a single mom to continue rebuilding

Less than two years ago my life turned upside down. I was blindsided, forced to rebuild a life for me and my three young children. The baby was 12 weeks old when I was made a single mom, and we had little safety net to speak of. Since then I have established a home for us while ensuring the children have everything they need to continue thriving in my care. During the hardest season, we benefited from the generosity of friends who regularly offered us food, childcare relief, clothing, care packages, and community support.

Having no choice but to start over without a partner or nearby family, I have done the best I can to independently keep us afloat. Recently I maxed out the credit cards I had to open in the aftermath of that life-changing day, and I reluctantly emptied my small retirement account to cover costs associated with legal expenses, regular childcare, moving with my children, and tending to our daily needs.

Because I am home with my special needs child this summer I will not be able to earn extra income during that time. With minor house and car repairs needed and some smaller bills outstanding, I find myself up against a wall until obtaining further work in the fall once all three children have returned to school.

I am humbly seeking contributions from those in a position to offer from their abundance. Whether you are a friend, community member, distant relative, or someone I’ve yet to meet, you might sense this is a particularly vulnerable place (broadcasting my current financial need). This is a last-resort option that I would initiate my own funding campaign, but my livelihood is worth the risk of putting this request out into the world.

What is raised will directly be applied to covering our immediate needs, which include paying for childcare expenses, lingering bill payments, my own medical costs, replacing the hot water tank in our house, and fixing a broken car part. Any money after this will be used to pay monthly credit card minimums.

I ask you to consider the endless work I do to nurture the healthy development of my three children. It is time for me to exit survival mode and continue healing in community. As Robin Wall Kimmerer reminds us: all flourishing is mutual.

Thank you for supporting me to flourish alongside my children this summer. And if you cannot donate at this time, please find another way to support individuals who are fighting for their lives and their families.