Hi, my name is Kate, and I’m a mom of two living in BC. I never thought I’d be in the position to ask for help like this, but we’re going through an incredibly difficult time and we could really use your support.

In October 2023, we made a big move hoping for a better future. My husband and I both had jobs when we arrived, and we were excited to settle into our new life. But in March 2024, I lost my job — and everything began to unravel. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes shortly after, and then we lost our daycare when our child was removed due to a safety issue. My Employment Insurance was supposed to last 52 weeks, but it ended early without notice. On top of that, a tax filing error cut our baby bonus in half earlier this year.

Since then, we’ve fallen further behind each month. We’ve reached out to social services, but we don’t qualify for assistance due to my husband’s income and the child benefit (even though we’re still coming up short by around $750 every month). I've been actively working with WorkBC since October 2024, applying for hundreds of jobs that could work around our lack of childcare — but haven’t had any luck.

Our kids have outgrown their clothes and shoes. Our utility bills are overdue. Last month, our rent bounced and we were charged fees by both the bank and the rental agency. We’ve covered July’s rent, but we have no way to cover our upcoming utility bills, let alone back-to-school essentials.

That’s why I’m asking for $5,000 — to get us caught up on utilities, prepay a couple of months of bills, and make sure our kids have what they need for school in September. This would give us room to breathe and regroup, so I can start working again when both kids are in school.

This experience has been heartbreaking. I’ve gained weight from stress; my husband has lost weight. We argue more than we want to. But what really broke me was when my 6-year-old daughter came to me and asked if she could sell her toys — just to buy herself shoes that don’t hurt her toes. She overheard us talking about money when we thought she was asleep.

If you’re in a position to give, we would be beyond grateful. If you’re not, even just sharing our story, or offering words of encouragement or advice, would mean so much to us.

Thank you for reading — and for caring.

With love,

Kate & Family