Support Laquisha's Path to Financial Stability

My name is Kathy Gleason. I am raising funds for my friend Laquisha Nichals and her three daughters.

Supporters following our attempts to help this family survive financially know that we have been helping single mom Laquisha for several years. We, donors, Dyan Cushing and I, have helped with school clothes, food, gas, and Christmas gifts. Last fall, I posted a GoFundMe to help Laquisha get into an apartment when her landlord decided to sell the condo she was renting. The family’s only option then would have been homelessness and living in their car. A new apartment meant higher rent, $2300 per month plus utilities for a small 2-bedroom, 1-bath apartment in an older building in Concord.

In July of this year, when I posted a GoFundMe to help with school clothes for the 3 girls, we realized that Laquisha was falling behind on bills. We helped her pay late PG&E bills, a portion of her rent, buy back-to-school clothes and shoes for her girls, and we paid one car payment of $468. Laquisha needs a reliable car to get to and from work and take the girls to and from school. Laquisha works two jobs to try to make ends meet financially. When she needed to replace her old car, she bought a 2020 Kia sedan from Enterprise Rentals in Concord. She was approved for a high-interest loan (14.4%) from Santander in Omaha, NE.

During the July GoFundMe, I was contacted by an anonymous donor who offered a $5,000 matching donation if it would change Laquisha’s life financially. The donor looked at her bills as well as her car loan contract and decided the best way we could help Laquisha financially would be to pay off part or all of her car loan. I had saved $462 from the July GoFundMe for an emergency. If this GoFundMe could raise $4,538 (clear – less a small GoFundMe fee), and I applied the $462 saved from July and the anonymous donor’s $5,000, we could pay down the car loan by $10,000 and save Laquisha $4,200 in interest. If we raise an additional $6,000, we can pay off the car loan, allowing Laquisha to put $468 per month towards rent, food, or gas. Total loan payoff is slightly under $16,000. I will start out with a $5,000 goal to pay the loan down $10,000. If all goes well, I will raise the goal to pay off the loan.

I have already told Laquisha this will be their 2024 Christmas fundraiser. Once funds are raised, we will send the payment directly to Santander. Please join us (the anonymous donor, Dyan Cushing, and myself) in attempting to make one family’s life easier. Please share this GoFundMe, letting people know that you know me and this is a legitimate fundraiser. If anyone prefers to donate directly, you can Venmo @dyan-cushing or PM me for a mailing address to send a check.

Thanks so much for your past support. This is a challenging effort which I have never attempted before. Thinking positive, if successful, we believe we will help this family stabilize financially.