Hi everyone,

I’m a full-time mom of three little ones and a full-time college student working toward my Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Human Services ( I am 6 months or less away from graduating )... I’m doing my best every day to build a better future for my family, but the last six months- a year have been an incredibly difficult season for us.

It started when our apartment became unsafe because of mold. We reported it repeatedly, asked our landlord for help, and even reached out to the Housing Authority. Instead of getting support, we were told to leave, with no repairs or concern for what we were dealing with. We had no choice but to move in with my mom with all three kids and start over from scratch.

During this time, my children started getting sick back-to-back. We had multiple urgent care and hospital trips …fevers, infections, breathing issues. One child would finally get better, and then another one would get sick. It felt like we couldn’t catch a break, and it took a huge emotional and physical toll on me as a mom.

In August, I broke my leg, which made everything even harder. Recovering while trying to take care of three kids (one being an infant), attend school full-time, and handle the stress of losing our home felt overwhelming.

Then my husband lost his job when the company he worked for collapsed and in an instant all of our income was gone. He was our only income, and the loss was devastating. It also affected him deeply feeling as if he had failed in someway and he slipped into a deep depression and he’s currently enrolled in a rehab program for mental health support. I’m proud of him for getting help, but it has left me carrying everything on my own during a very fragile time.

Now, with Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching, things feel especially heavy. I want so badly to give my kids a holiday season that feels normal and joyful. They’re little, they still believe in the magic of Christmas, and I’m trying to protect that for them. Being “Santa” for three young children on top of everything else has been weighing on me, and I just want them to feel loved, safe, and excited no matter what we’re going through behind the scenes.

This is to help us get through the holidays with basic needs like food, gas, some bills and hopefully making Christmas a little brighter for the kids and making sure they have a special Christmas morning while I continue school and work toward rebuilding our life. Asking for help isn’t easy……it’s honestly really embarrassing, but I’m choosing to trust God and believe that He uses people to support us when we need it most.

I also want to share how much my parents have carried us during this season. My dad has stepped in more times than I can even put into words ( my whole life but especially now )… helping with getting needs for the kids met, diapers, food, & helping with bills, etc… My mom opened her home to all of us without a second thought, even though it’s been stressful and overwhelming for them too. My husband doesn’t have any family support at all… Zero!

so every bit of this weight has fallen onto my parents’ shoulders. And if I’m being real, it’s embarrassing and painful to have to rely on them.

I’m grateful beyond words for them, but I also just want to take this financial strain off of them so they can breathe too. Any help we receive eases that burden and helps my family stand back on our own feet.

If you feel led to donate, share, or pray for our family, thank you from the bottom of my heart. It truly means more than you know. ❤️

ETA: if we reach the immediate need for bills, necessities, and Christmas for the kids I want to add an extra cushioning for when he returns home and the search for a new job continues.