Story

Hello, and thank you for taking a moment to read my story. My name is Valerie, and for most of my two sons’ lives, I’ve been their sole supporter. Raising them as a single-solo mom with full custody has been the greatest challenge and joy of my life.

Our journey hasn’t been easy, and the past few years have been especially difficult. I’m sharing our story in the hopes that you’ll consider lending a helping hand as we work toward stability and a brighter future.

Our Story

When my boys were very young—my older son was 3 and my younger was just 5 months old—their father and I separated unexpectedly. Since then, he has been absent for over 90% of their lives, providing less than minimal child support.

I’ve worked tirelessly to provide for my sons, juggling jobs, raising them with love, and making tough sacrifices to give them the best life I could.

In 2020, we moved out of state to an area with more affordable housing, allowing us to leave behind shared living arrangements and rent our own space.

Today, my oldest son, 19, is a freshman at Boise State University. He lives off-campus and works part-time. I still support him in many ways as he transitions into independent living.

My younger son, a part-time high school student, lives with me and requires extra care due to severe mental health challenges. His needs for the past 15 years have required me to find very flexible work, making our financial situation even more challenging.

2024: A Year of Overwhelming Hardship

This year has tested us in ways I never imagined.

• Job Instability: I faced three rounds of unemployment due to a layoff, an underfunded position, and chronic illness.
• Health Challenges: In July, I was struck by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Vertigo, and severe anxiety, leaving me unable to work for two months while seeking treatment.
• Housing Issues: Rent increases forced us to move twice within two months. One move was due to uninhabitable living conditions, which resulted in significant expenses and broken-lease penalties.

On top of this, I’ve been carrying the weight of debt accrued from years of hardship, including:

• Rebuilding after our home burned down in 2017 without renters insurance to assist us. We lost everything, including my monthly income from a home-based business.
• After the fire taking on business debts from running a homeschooling program.
• Being scammed by a fraudulent debt-resolution company, which left me with lawsuits and no resolution.

Despite everything, I’ve kept pushing forward for my boys.

A Fresh Start

I recently secured a new job as an insurance representative with an incredible agency, offering the potential for the stability we so desperately need. However, the base salary falls short of covering our current expenses, as detailed below, and it will take a few months before I can start earning the commissions and bonuses necessary to close the gap.

To help in the meantime, I’ve taken on part-time caregiving jobs, but balancing these additional responsibilities with the care my younger son requires has become extremely taxing on both of us and is proving to be unsustainable.

Why We Need Help Now

Today, I face extreme financial hardship as all options have been exhausted. I am struggling to pay basic bills, including utilities and rent. While I am aware of programs that assist once utilities are shut off or an eviction notice is served, I am asking for help before it comes to that.

I’m seeking your support to help us get through the next few months while I ramp up in my new role. Your donation will go toward:

• Covering bills and basic living expenses.
• Paying down debt to reduce monthly payments.
• Giving my family the stability we need to move forward.

With your help, I hope to achieve financial stability and give my sons the chance to experience life beyond mere survival—a reality they’ve known their entire lives. My dream is to provide them with a stable foundation as they step into adolescence, offering them a stronger platform to build their future.

A Glimpse of Our Finances

• Monthly Expenses: $4,500
• Current Income: $3,221 (plus part-time caregiving jobs)
• Debt: Personal loans, credit cards, and legal fees accrued from years of hardship.

Target Goal: $12,000

Where your donations will go:

• First $3,837 will bridge the gap between income and expenses for the next three months, allowing us to cover current monthly expenses of rent, utilities, bills, necessary supplements and medicines, insurance, gas, and groceries.
• Next $1,000 will be set aside in a savings account for emergencies, providing a small cushion to help prevent future financial strain.
• Finally, $7,163 will go toward paying down the $19,200 of accrued debt from 2023 and 2024, including personal loans, credit cards, and legal fees. This will help reduce monthly debt payments, allowing us to move toward long-term financial stability.

Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to stability and a brighter future.
Your kindness provides the breathing room we need to move forward with hope, confidence, and the ability to rebuild. 

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for considering a donation. Your generosity means more than words can express, and I promise to pay it forward as I always strive to do, even in small ways.

I’ve always been someone with a big heart, and I look forward to moving beyond mere survivorship with my boys at my side. 

Together, we aim to become contributing neighbors and citizens. Your support will not only help us through this difficult time but will also help my sons establish a foundation of generosity, empathy, and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.

With humble gratitude,
Valerie

P.S.

There’s a reward!

As a token of my appreciation for your support, once we’re on our feet and stable, I’ll treat my boys to a snowboarding day at Bogus Basin! It will be their first time (really) playing in the snow, other than running outside in their rain boots to build a snowman on our front lawn. They’ve worked so hard during the snow seasons over the last four years and truly deserve to experience the joy of snow.

To thank you for your generosity in any amount, I’ll email you a digital family photo album showcasing their fun day in the snow! It will serve as a special reminder of how your support helped us create lasting memories and move toward a brighter future.