Hey all, my name is Rik. I'm just one member of a team of mutual aid activists. Over the past few months, we've all dedicated ourselves to gathering support for Erika Saunders; a Black single mother of two battling income, housing, and food insecurity.

During this time, I and others on the team have become familiar with her story.

She is a warehouse worker from the Jacksonville, FL, area. She has been unable to work for some time, due to the recent gestation and subsequent birth of her youngest daughter, now eight months old. This, compounded by the hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the utter lack of rent regulation in Florida, has made it impossible for Erika to support her family on her own.

To make matters worse, after finally being able to crowdfund enough to get herself and her kids moved into an apartment, Erika was unjustly detained by Jacksonville Police for a 53-day period; during which her children were taken into DCFS custody. She faced eviction, houselessness, and the almost-definite possibility of losing her children forever.

Thankfully, the team raised enough to avoid the eviction and renew Erika's lease-- allowing her to be reunited with her children. But this is a small group, and our methods were not practical for the kind of long-term support Erika needs.

Erika needs to be able to raise around $3000 each month to afford her monthly expenses-- rent, utilities, food, childcare, and other necessities. We are urging folks to contribute however they can.

If we can work together to cultivate a culture of community care, families like Erika's, and the world, will be much better off.