My name is Sara Espinoza, and I created this GoFundMe with the permission of Eric Manion.

Today we are grieving the sudden and tragic loss of Amanda Manion, a beloved mother, sister, daughter, and friend to many. This heartbreaking situation has left her children facing unimaginable loss and uncertainty.

We are coming together to support Amanda’s children during this time, helping to provide for their immediate needs, stability, and care in the days and months ahead.

Any contribution, no matter the size, will go directly toward supporting the children as they navigate this devastating chapter. If you are unable to give, please consider sharing this fundraiser and keeping the family in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for your kindness, compassion, and support.

editing to add: GoFundMe has asked that I update the “story” section to reflect a few things for greater transparency. Mandy is my husband’s cousin. Eric, Mandy’s brother is also my husband’s cousin and we offered to set up the fundraiser as he and his wife are helping the children to manage the logistics of virtually everything else. Eric and his wife are speaking with victims’ representatives to determine how to best protect the money for the children and *all* of this money will be going directly to them via a secured method (like a trust) once they determine what that is. Originally we were raising money to cover her funeral cost but fortunately it looks like a victims fund through the state will be covering that. We would like to assure you that my husband and I will not be the beneficiaries for this GoFundMe and that GoFundMe has requested further verification to ensure we are not taking advantage of the situation (which is truly amazing of them!). My husband loved Mandy dearly and he and Eric were like a second set of siblings to him growing up. The loss is unimaginable for their entire family and this is the biggest way we could think of to help from afar. Thank you to everybody who has donated, shared and prayed for them.