Support Bella's Journey to Independence

I am raising funds for a sweet young lady named Bella (those who worked with me at the church will know her as Gabby). She came to the US from Bulgaria with her brother 7 years ago when she was 13. They had a very rough start to their adoption journey and lived with Blaine and I for a few weeks after a month of being in the country. Since then, they have been raised and taken care of by two different families. Bella has lived on her own (with a friend and her family) for just over a year.

Bella graduated high school and went to cosmetology school. She is working towards passing her exam so she can start work in that field. In the meantime, she has worked at Panera. The family she is living with is moving to a very rural area soon. She does not have the funds to live alone, so she just left her job and her plan is to move there with them. However, Blaine and I would love to figure out a way for her to be able to live near us so that we can support her however we can and help her build a community. There are far more work opportunities here, and we would love to help her get to a point of sustainability and thriving.

Her car needs a new engine and is not worth enough to put the money into it (she recently spent the savings she had for a different repair). She plans to sell this one, but thinks she will get $1,500 or less for it. We are working towards finding her a job, but she will need a car to get there. We will also be helping her find a place to stay with roommates (unfortunately we are busting out of the seams of our house and do not have any space).

She has not been given very many legs up in life and has had to figure out a new country, new culture, new language, multiple new families, and care for her brother through the transitions. Many 20 year olds who have the support, money, education and experience have a difficult time getting their footing during this stage of life.

I would appreciate any help you or someone you might know is willing to offer to help her! Blaine and I will be helping her with these funds, and it will go specifically towards...

1) Getting a car and having a few months of car payments stashed away so that she has the car before getting a job

2) Moving expenses and first 2 months of (her portion of) rent/utilities/groceries to get her on her feet so she can get a job

3) Some professional clothes if she gets an administrative position