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I am a father of two young boys. we already are living without water and we have no food beyond this week. we walk across street to use restroom at a family members house, this is gracious enough as we have fallen on hard times and so have they. we, together, try our best to help each other but i have been without meaningful work since being laid off from a steel mill. i was a hard worker and went in sick or well to make sure my family had their needs met, when i lost my job it was devastating. i am 26 no degrees, some college level courses completed and have had only two jobs since i was 18. i have little to no work experience outside of the heavy industries which have fallen off sue to the slow economy. this makes me under qualified for most good paying jobs as i cannot work for min. wage and support my children along with my home. this has destroyed my six year marriage and left me penniless and sometimes homeless as my ex wife retains the home. she works near full time but only makes 9 dollars and hour driving bus for osu, not enough income to cover all the expenses without my help. i have moved back home to try to make amends to find that within 10 days we are to be removed from the house if i do not have $1,500.00 for non-payment of the mortgage. please if someone can help us as i am desperately looking for gainful employment, i want to work and am a good hearted christian man. if only a few kinds words to sway an employer to give me a chance, anything would be appreciated.

call 614-632-0539

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

I have just received a notice that my landlord will have me evicted because I am late on my rent. I'm 14 days late. I've been managing to make ends meet but I haven't been able to find a job and my previous employer has went out of business after working there for 5 years. I have filled out so many applications, made phone calls, physically went in to speak with a manager and still no luck. I go to every job, career, or hiring fair I can and still nothing. I paid my April rent and had nothing left but $17 in my pocket. I bought rice and beans and that's all I've eaten for the past month. I only eat 1 meal a day because I can't afford to eat anything more. My light are off because I couldn't pay it. I've sold everything I think is of value...my laptop, my tv, my phone, and any expensive clothing items I owned (which were gifts). I'm 20 years old and my parents can't help, they are bankrupt as of 6 months ago. I try not to let anyone see me down about this, but I'm extremely depressed because of this and I'm trying everything I can to help myself.

Since today is Mother’s Day, I wanted to share my journey thus far and what it’s meant to be a mother for me. My story is unique in that I’ve overcome various obstacles to gain what some may call normalcy. Now I’m facing a struggle in which I’m hoping to tap into the kindness of the internet in order to help me through this hurdle.

I was raised by a single parent and grew up in a town where most families were on some sort of government assistance and could barely make ends meet. I was always taught to value what I had and that hard work will always bear its fruits. My high school was filled with kids who didn’t care about getting an education. I was a introverted “nerd” who took Honors and AP classes and saw education as a way to get out of a town that didn’t have much opportunity for growth. While I valued my education, I was also bored to death, even in my “accelerated classes,” so I stupidly acted out and started to party as high school kids do. I ditched class to drink and dabbled a bit in drugs because there was nothing else to do. Even as I partied, I still managed to remain on the honor roll for all 4 years. Fast forward to the beginning of my senior year, our class had 250 kids and throughout the year approximately half of the student body dropped out at one point or another, giving up on their 14 year investment in their education. I made it to the end, but while everyone was excitedly responding to college acceptance letters, I had to throw all of mine out. Why? I was pregnant. I fully accept responsibility for my actions, but sex was not talked about in my household. I had no idea I had access to birth control or condoms and foolishly made a mistake that would change my life. I went to my prom and graduation 3 months pregnant without anyone knowing aside from my family.

The summer after graduation was spent brainstorming options and finding a job to help support my unborn child. I decided to keep the baby, thinking I would give it up for adoption. I was too immature to take care of myself, and now a baby? No way. As the months progressed, I fell in love with the baby and decided to keep her and raise her with the help of my family. I was excited but deep inside I was depressed. I really wanted to go off to college and live the life of a student living on campus, making new friends, staying up late to cram for midterms and possibly travel a bit. I couldn’t do that anymore and the thought of experiencing college in any other way didn’t entice me. I also knew if I didn’t get an education, I’d be stuck in a cycle of dead end jobs all my life. I knew I didn’t want to struggle like I’ve seen my family fight just to put a decent meal on the table and keep the lights from getting shut down.

I started college two months after my daughter was born. She was perfection and an incredible motivator. I’ve always thought that she deserves something better, beyond what I can give her but I decided to try my best to give her an amazing life. Since I just had a baby, I wanted to explore the opportunities I had outside of a traditional classroom in college. Luckily, the local community college offered online courses which only required me to be in class on the first day, at midterms and during finals week. I did this for a year and a half until I took every online course possible. Then it was time for full immersion into college. Here came daycare and having to balance college life with working and a small child.

My average day in college looked like this: we’d have to wake up at the crack of dawn so my daughter and I could ride a 45-minute bus to school. Unlike most of my classmates, I had to dash straight from work to class or go to work right after class so that I could pick up my daughter from school at a proper hour. I was very fortunate to land a job in a small office as an office assistant during college that would later prove invaluable. The pay was ok, but I was allowed to tailor my schedule to be compatible with my changing class load every semester. After our day was done came another bus ride. Once we got home, I’d have to make dinner, pack us lunch for the next day, prepare her backpack with extra clothes plus wash and prepare a day’s worth of bottles for my daughter. After I put my daughter to bed was the only time I had for homework. I’d stay up until about 2am every night doing my reading assignments or writing papers only to have to get up 3 ½ hours later to start my day again.

I did this every day for 5 ½ years.

Was it worth it? Heck yeah. I got my bachelor’s degree on my wall as proof. I am the first person in my family to ever get a degree. I have multiple relatives my age who ended up dropping out for various reasons yet I managed to graduate (with honors!) while juggling a small child and a demanding job. Aside from raising my daughter, this is what I’m most proud of thus far. I read online that less than 2% of teen moms attain a college degree before age 30. I’m stoked beyond words to be a part of that 2% (Source) I hope that this struggle and success will set an example to my daughter and show her that hard work does pay off.

After college, I worked a few jobs that I wasn’t too keen on. Too corporate, too stuffy, too bureaucratic to evoke any change and make an impact. I wanted to wake up every morning and feel inspired to go to work. I didn’t just want a paycheck, I wanted to engulf myself within organization so that I could kick ass and take names. I also wanted a 401(k), health benefits and life insurance so that my bases could be covered in old age. But mainly I wanted to wake up invigorated every morning and be able to pay my bills. After college, my daughter and I moved into our first home. I loved waking her up in her room filled with the girliest of things. I was a proud mama–on my own, college educated and living life as an independent woman.

Independent but unfulfilled. That is, until I was introduced to the CEO of my most recent employer. We hit it off immediately and within two week was offered the chance of a lifetime. I was invited to join his multimillion dollar company and close-knit team as his right hand. I’d learn all the in’s and out’s of running a business in a dynamic industry and receive a nice salary. After a bit of contemplation, I decided to resign from my stuffy job to join a company I was proud to be apart of. My job was great. It was flexible, nurturing, educational and insightful. In a few short weeks, I was in the trenches with my boss handling everything from sales to contracts to finance to HR. That is, until the company suddenly went out of business. I won’t get into the details but I was told I’d have a month before we were all let go. This was the job I wanted to settle in and dedicate years to, not just a job really but a mission to which I was dedicated.

I was laid off in March with no severance pay as the company had nothing. I had a small savings which I tapped into as I began searching for a job. I had to file for unemployment for the first time, which was hard as I’ve prided myself on not having to use government resources to pay my bills. I have almost a decade of solid work history and yet I’m struggling to find a job. Places are hiring but they’re scarce and don’t always offer pay that can support a family.

My bills are piling up and I have family and friends that are in no position to help me out. Unemployment can only pay so much and it isn’t enough to put a home-cooked meal on the table or keep everything paid. I’m in the process of starting up two businesses–one that peddles vintage finds and another that provides folks with stellar resumes to land their dream job so that I can increase my cash flow, but in the meantime, I’m asking for any donations to my cause. I’m willing to offer any services in return for a donation over $30 via paypal. There’s a button below where your transaction will be processed safely and gratefully!

Please pass this on and +1 it, favorite it, retweet it and share in any way possible! No action is too small or unappreciated.

Thank you so much for letting me share my story with you.

Since today is Mother’s Day, I wanted to share my journey thus far and what it’s meant to be a mother for me. My story is unique in that I’ve overcome various obstacles to gain what some may call normalcy. Now I’m facing a struggle in which I’m hoping to tap into the kindness of the internet in order to help me through this hurdle.

I was raised by a single parent and grew up in a town where most families were on some sort of government assistance and could barely make ends meet. I was always taught to value what I had and that hard work will always bear its fruits. My high school was filled with kids who didn’t care about getting an education. I was a introverted “nerd” who took Honors and AP classes and saw education as a way to get out of a town that didn’t have much opportunity for growth. While I valued my education, I was also bored to death, even in my “accelerated classes,” so I stupidly acted out and started to party as high school kids do. I ditched class to drink and dabbled a bit in drugs because there was nothing else to do. Even as I partied, I still managed to remain on the honor roll for all 4 years. Fast forward to the beginning of my senior year, our class had 250 kids and throughout the year approximately half of the student body dropped out at one point or another, giving up on their 14 year investment in their education. I made it to the end, but while everyone was excitedly responding to college acceptance letters, I had to throw all of mine out. Why? I was pregnant. I fully accept responsibility for my actions, but sex was not talked about in my household. I had no idea I had access to birth control or condoms and foolishly made a mistake that would change my life. I went to my prom and graduation 3 months pregnant without anyone knowing aside from my family.

The summer after graduation was spent brainstorming options and finding a job to help support my unborn child. I decided to keep the baby, thinking I would give it up for adoption. I was too immature to take care of myself, and now a baby? No way. As the months progressed, I fell in love with the baby and decided to keep her and raise her with the help of my family. I was excited but deep inside I was depressed. I really wanted to go off to college and live the life of a student living on campus, making new friends, staying up late to cram for midterms and possibly travel a bit. I couldn’t do that anymore and the thought of experiencing college in any other way didn’t entice me. I also knew if I didn’t get an education, I’d be stuck in a cycle of dead end jobs all my life. I knew I didn’t want to struggle like I’ve seen my family fight just to put a decent meal on the table and keep the lights from getting shut down.

I started college two months after my daughter was born. She was perfection and an incredible motivator. I’ve always thought that she deserves something better, beyond what I can give her but I decided to try my best to give her an amazing life. Since I just had a baby, I wanted to explore the opportunities I had outside of a traditional classroom in college. Luckily, the local community college offered online courses which only required me to be in class on the first day, at midterms and during finals week. I did this for a year and a half until I took every online course possible. Then it was time for full immersion into college. Here came daycare and having to balance college life with working and a small child.

My average day in college looked like this: we’d have to wake up at the crack of dawn so my daughter and I could ride a 45-minute bus to school. Unlike most of my classmates, I had to dash straight from work to class or go to work right after class so that I could pick up my daughter from school at a proper hour. I was very fortunate to land a job in a small office as an office assistant during college that would later prove invaluable. The pay was ok, but I was allowed to tailor my schedule to be compatible with my changing class load every semester. After our day was done came another bus ride. Once we got home, I’d have to make dinner, pack us lunch for the next day, prepare her backpack with extra clothes plus wash and prepare a day’s worth of bottles for my daughter. After I put my daughter to bed was the only time I had for homework. I’d stay up until about 2am every night doing my reading assignments or writing papers only to have to get up 3 ½ hours later to start my day again.

I did this every day for 5 ½ years.

Was it worth it? Heck yeah. I got my bachelor’s degree on my wall as proof. I am the first person in my family to ever get a degree. I have multiple relatives my age who ended up dropping out for various reasons yet I managed to graduate (with honors!) while juggling a small child and a demanding job. Aside from raising my daughter, this is what I’m most proud of thus far. I read online that less than 2% of teen moms attain a college degree before age 30. I’m stoked beyond words to be a part of that 2% (Source) I hope that this struggle and success will set an example to my daughter and show her that hard work does pay off.

After college, I worked a few jobs that I wasn’t too keen on. Too corporate, too stuffy, too bureaucratic to evoke any change and make an impact. I wanted to wake up every morning and feel inspired to go to work. I didn’t just want a paycheck, I wanted to engulf myself within organization so that I could kick ass and take names. I also wanted a 401(k), health benefits and life insurance so that my bases could be covered in old age. But mainly I wanted to wake up invigorated every morning and be able to pay my bills. After college, my daughter and I moved into our first home. I loved waking her up in her room filled with the girliest of things. I was a proud mama–on my own, college educated and living life as an independent woman.

Independent but unfulfilled. That is, until I was introduced to the CEO of my most recent employer. We hit it off immediately and within two week was offered the chance of a lifetime. I was invited to join his multimillion dollar company and close-knit team as his right hand. I’d learn all the in’s and out’s of running a business in a dynamic industry and receive a nice salary. After a bit of contemplation, I decided to resign from my stuffy job to join a company I was proud to be apart of. My job was great. It was flexible, nurturing, educational and insightful. In a few short weeks, I was in the trenches with my boss handling everything from sales to contracts to finance to HR. That is, until the company suddenly went out of business. I won’t get into the details but I was told I’d have a month before we were all let go. This was the job I wanted to settle in and dedicate years to, not just a job really but a mission to which I was dedicated.

I was laid off in March with no severance pay as the company had nothing. I had a small savings which I tapped into as I began searching for a job. I had to file for unemployment for the first time, which was hard as I’ve prided myself on not having to use government resources to pay my bills. I have almost a decade of solid work history and yet I’m struggling to find a job. Places are hiring but they’re scarce and don’t always offer pay that can support a family.

My bills are piling up and I have family and friends that are in no position to help me out. Unemployment can only pay so much and it isn’t enough to put a home-cooked meal on the table or keep everything paid. I’m in the process of starting up two businesses–one that peddles vintage finds and another that provides folks with stellar resumes to land their dream job so that I can increase my cash flow, but in the meantime, I’m asking for any donations to my cause. I’m willing to offer any services in return for a donation over $30 via paypal. There’s a button below where your transaction will be processed safely and gratefully!

Please pass this on and +1 it, favorite it, retweet it and share in any way possible! No action is too small or unappreciated.

Thank you so much for letting me share my story with you.

http://educatedsinglemom.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/i-am-the-2-or-my-life-as-a-teen-mom-2/

Since today is Mother’s Day, I wanted to share my journey thus far and what it’s meant to be a mother for me. My story is unique in that I’ve overcome various obstacles to gain what some may call normalcy. Now I’m facing a struggle in which I’m hoping to tap into the kindness of the internet in order to help me through this hurdle.

I was raised by a single parent and grew up in a town where most families were on some sort of government assistance and could barely make ends meet. I was always taught to value what I had and that hard work will always bear its fruits. My high school was filled with kids who didn’t care about getting an education. I was a introverted “nerd” who took Honors and AP classes and saw education as a way to get out of a town that didn’t have much opportunity for growth. While I valued my education, I was also bored to death, even in my “accelerated classes,” so I stupidly acted out and started to party as high school kids do. I ditched class to drink and dabbled a bit in drugs because there was nothing else to do. Even as I partied, I still managed to remain on the honor roll for all 4 years. Fast forward to the beginning of my senior year, our class had 250 kids and throughout the year approximately half of the student body dropped out at one point or another, giving up on their 14 year investment in their education. I made it to the end, but while everyone was excitedly responding to college acceptance letters, I had to throw all of mine out. Why? I was pregnant. I fully accept responsibility for my actions, but sex was not talked about in my household. I had no idea I had access to birth control or condoms and foolishly made a mistake that would change my life. I went to my prom and graduation 3 months pregnant without anyone knowing aside from my family.

The summer after graduation was spent brainstorming options and finding a job to help support my unborn child. I decided to keep the baby, thinking I would give it up for adoption. I was too immature to take care of myself, and now a baby? No way. As the months progressed, I fell in love with the baby and decided to keep her and raise her with the help of my family. I was excited but deep inside I was depressed. I really wanted to go off to college and live the life of a student living on campus, making new friends, staying up late to cram for midterms and possibly travel a bit. I couldn’t do that anymore and the thought of experiencing college in any other way didn’t entice me. I also knew if I didn’t get an education, I’d be stuck in a cycle of dead end jobs all my life. I knew I didn’t want to struggle like I’ve seen my family fight just to put a decent meal on the table and keep the lights from getting shut down.

I started college two months after my daughter was born. She was perfection and an incredible motivator. I’ve always thought that she deserves something better, beyond what I can give her but I decided to try my best to give her an amazing life. Since I just had a baby, I wanted to explore the opportunities I had outside of a traditional classroom in college. Luckily, the local community college offered online courses which only required me to be in class on the first day, at midterms and during finals week. I did this for a year and a half until I took every online course possible. Then it was time for full immersion into college. Here came daycare and having to balance college life with working and a small child.

My average day in college looked like this: we’d have to wake up at the crack of dawn so my daughter and I could ride a 45-minute bus to school. Unlike most of my classmates, I had to dash straight from work to class or go to work right after class so that I could pick up my daughter from school at a proper hour. I was very fortunate to land a job in a small office as an office assistant during college that would later prove invaluable. The pay was ok, but I was allowed to tailor my schedule to be compatible with my changing class load every semester. After our day was done came another bus ride. Once we got home, I’d have to make dinner, pack us lunch for the next day, prepare her backpack with extra clothes plus wash and prepare a day’s worth of bottles for my daughter. After I put my daughter to bed was the only time I had for homework. I’d stay up until about 2am every night doing my reading assignments or writing papers only to have to get up 3 ½ hours later to start my day again.

I did this every day for 5 ½ years.

Was it worth it? Heck yeah. I got my bachelor’s degree on my wall as proof. I am the first person in my family to ever get a degree. I have multiple relatives my age who ended up dropping out for various reasons yet I managed to graduate (with honors!) while juggling a small child and a demanding job. Aside from raising my daughter, this is what I’m most proud of thus far. I read online that less than 2% of teen moms attain a college degree before age 30. I’m stoked beyond words to be a part of that 2% (Source) I hope that this struggle and success will set an example to my daughter and show her that hard work does pay off.

After college, I worked a few jobs that I wasn’t too keen on. Too corporate, too stuffy, too bureaucratic to evoke any change and make an impact. I wanted to wake up every morning and feel inspired to go to work. I didn’t just want a paycheck, I wanted to engulf myself within organization so that I could kick ass and take names. I also wanted a 401(k), health benefits and life insurance so that my bases could be covered in old age. But mainly I wanted to wake up invigorated every morning and be able to pay my bills. After college, my daughter and I moved into our first home. I loved waking her up in her room filled with the girliest of things. I was a proud mama–on my own, college educated and living life as an independent woman.

Independent but unfulfilled. That is, until I was introduced to the CEO of my most recent employer. We hit it off immediately and within two week was offered the chance of a lifetime. I was invited to join his multimillion dollar company and close-knit team as his right hand. I’d learn all the in’s and out’s of running a business in a dynamic industry and receive a nice salary. After a bit of contemplation, I decided to resign from my stuffy job to join a company I was proud to be apart of. My job was great. It was flexible, nurturing, educational and insightful. In a few short weeks, I was in the trenches with my boss handling everything from sales to contracts to finance to HR. That is, until the company suddenly went out of business. I won’t get into the details but I was told I’d have a month before we were all let go. This was the job I wanted to settle in and dedicate years to, not just a job really but a mission to which I was dedicated.

I was laid off in March with no severance pay as the company had nothing. I had a small savings which I tapped into as I began searching for a job. I had to file for unemployment for the first time, which was hard as I’ve prided myself on not having to use government resources to pay my bills. I have almost a decade of solid work history and yet I’m struggling to find a job. Places are hiring but they’re scarce and don’t always offer pay that can support a family.

My bills are piling up and I have family and friends that are in no position to help me out. Unemployment can only pay so much and it isn’t enough to put a home-cooked meal on the table or keep everything paid. I’m in the process of starting up two businesses–one that peddles vintage finds and another that provides folks with stellar resumes to land their dream job so that I can increase my cash flow, but in the meantime, I’m asking for any donations to my cause. I’m willing to offer any services in return for a donation over $30 via paypal. There’s a button below where your transaction will be processed safely and gratefully!

Please pass this on and +1 it, favorite it, retweet it and share in any way possible! No action is too small or unappreciated.

Thank you so much for letting me share my story with you.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.

Four months ago, my children and I came home to find alarms, smoke, and fear. The garage next to our apartment building was going up in flames. Knowing that our family car was parked inside, our hearts began to sink. The fire department arrived, and seemed to have the situation under control, until cars parked inside the garage began to explode. The flames reached our apartment building, and it too began to go up in flames. From across the street, our family, and several others, watched our homes disappear behind clouds of black smoke. For the next couple of hours, fireman tried to put out the flames, but by the time the fire was contained, our home was nothing but burnt brick and ash. We thank God that our family wasn’t in the building, and that no other residents were hurt.
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you don’t have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and it’s a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family can’t do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help you’re willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.