Help Kelsey Willmott's Pregnancy

A few months ago Kelsey Willmott finally made the big announcement that she was pregnant with her first child! We could not be more thrilled to celebrate the ultimate symbol of love between her and her fiancé T'Niko Garland and anxiously await the arrival of our new bundle of joy!

While the pregnancy itself has been going smoothly, life has thrown Kelsey more than one curve ball to make bringing this baby into the world challenging. Kelsey is a professional dancer and dance instructor and therefore (like most of us) previously has been living pay check to pay check. While she has been hustling to work and save as much as she can, we are concerned she will not have enough funds to not only support herself and her baby, but to manage the surprise expenses that may arise after giving birth. Not only that, but she will be unable to work while her body heals on an indeterminate mat leave, and dancers don't get benefits or support  with our job.

Moreover, Kelsey has been discriminated against by the Toronto dance community because of her pregnancy. On top of not being able to dance and book jobs, studios have callously cut her classes while she is pregnant and in anticipation of her mat leave. She has been struggling to find regular work to generate the funds to prepare for her leave from the workforce.

T'Niko is a loving and supportive partner, but he is currently  living in his homeland of Turks and Caicos and unable to physically be there to help Kelsey. The couple is currently going through the long and exhaustive immigration process so that the new family can one day live happily every after.  

All this is obviously stressful and not ideal for an expectant mother. Kelsey's friends have been a great support and are doing everything they can for her, but there are major gaps in preparation because of a lack of funds and resources. Which is why we're reaching out to you!

We are looking for not only monetary donations to create a stable financial base for Kelsey's maternity leave, but for in-kind labour and resources for the renovation of her current 2 bedroom apartment, which in its current state not ready for a new baby.

Apartment resources we are looking for include:
- a new love seat this a potential pull-out/bed option to house her mother's visits from Calgary
- handy man work to repair water damage on one wall and buy the sink in the kitchen
- A new small washer and dryer (both current appliances are on their last legs)
- handy man work to optimize the apartment for storage and living (especially making use of the high ceilings of the apartment for storage)
- interior decorating to help make the small apartment feel bigger
- cleaning services to give the apartment a well overdue deep clean

Money raised for Kelsey's maternity leave  will go to :
- supplies to make over Kelsey's apartment
- rent
- internet and hyrdo
- groceries
- baby supplies (food, diapers, clothes, toiletries)
- possible health care and mediaction both for baby and Kelsey's recovery
- Surprise expenses (you know, the life happens stuff)

Kelsey is due early/mid October, so we hope to get everything we need by late Sepetmber so our mom-to-be can settle into a newly recouped apartment and prepare to bring little blueberry into the world!

First Goal:
- $3, 000 by August 30th (We plan to begin work on the apartment Labour Day weekend/First full week in September)
All other funds will go to supporting Kelsey on what will likely be a 6 month mat leave. 

If you love our Kelsey the way we do, please consider giving what you can! Even $5 is $5 dollars more than we had before. Read the list of in-kind donations and email us if you have labour or physical supplies that you think will be useful and are willing to part with. We are happy to take it off your hands! Any donations we cannot use will be donated to a woman's shelter so we can help another expectant mother in need. Simply sharing this campaign can help us reach our goal!

Help us  give Kelsey and blueberry their best chance!