Starting Over, Standing Strong
Donation protected
Ashley and her girls had their world turned upside down this past February. Dan, her husband of nine years, a school superintendent, community advocate, and respected citizen was charged with sex trafficking and child pornography. It shocked this small tight-knit town but devastated and crushed his wife and four little girls. Anger, worry, insecurities, thoughts of abandonment and financial ruin consume Ashley. The community has rallied around them and we are working hard to support them in any way we can.
New needs have surfaced for Ashley and her four beautiful girls (who are all under the age of 7) as they try to make it through each day. Legal fees have added up. Ashley has filed for divorce and has taken steps to protect her children and herself. She is left without income and benefits. She has a degree in Elementary Education; however, if she gets a job, her income wouldn't start coming in until fall. If she starts teaching, she would need daycare and will be stretched thin financially trying to support 4 little ones by herself.
Ashley’s time is consumed with applying for jobs, counseling appointments, meeting the physical, mental, and emotional needs of her kids, paying a mortgage on a house she will need to sell, looking for childcare for this fall, all while muddling through the trauma, grieving the life she and the girls once knew, and mourning a person they once trusted and loved.
The community support has truly helped them get through each and every day. In these dark times, so many have stepped forward to offer assistance. Despite the generosity, unknown obstacles have surfaced. Ashley is unable to sell the house until the divorce is final which leaves her with all the bills and mortgage. She also learned the taxes were filed incorrectly so she had to pay back taxes unexpectedly. That is just a fraction of the difficultly she is faced with. Each way she turns, there seems to be unknowns or obstacles standing in her way.
Amidst all of this, Ashley’s focus is and has always been on her little girls. She is trying hard to keep their world as normal as possible. While a move may be inevitable, it is important to keep some stability in their lives. The routines she has established have helped them be successful, happy children and changing that right now is not what is best for them. They love their school, their community, and their wonderful neighbors. They are surrounded by love and this is what truly keeps these girls sparkling. It will also be important to keep some consistency in their lives as continued media coverage will bring up more questions and more hurt.
Ashley and her girls are trying to pick up the pieces of their life and start fresh. She is bruised but not broken. With God’s love and your support, Ashley will rise up and raise strong, stable, loving, and generous girls who will contribute great things to this world.
Ways to Help:
Donate on the gofundme site
Spread the Word! Share this site with others.
Donations are also accepted at RCU’s drive-up. All you need to do is mention Ashley Peggs’ Donation Fund
If you have other ways you can help, please contact Brooke Kaldor or Shannon Camlek
Keep them in your thoughts and prayers
***Please know that all donations go directly to Ashley and her girls.
Statement from Ashley:
"In this time of darkness, the outpouring of love and support has given me a light to focus on. There are no words to truly express how grateful I am to be surrounded by such an amazing community.
My girls and I have been shown so much generosity and compassion from family, friends, neighbors, teachers, staff members, police officers, and even complete strangers. There have been countless meals, donations, groceries, surprises for the girls, letters, gift cards, and diapers…the list goes on. Every thought–big or small–has been such a blessing to us and we could not get through this time without each of you. Moving forward, I will continue to focus on my amazing little girls and on the love and goodness you have all shown me. I will look for the silver lining each day and do my best to teach my girls to be better, not bitter as we make lemonade from a situation full of lemons.
Each of you is a blessing to me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
New needs have surfaced for Ashley and her four beautiful girls (who are all under the age of 7) as they try to make it through each day. Legal fees have added up. Ashley has filed for divorce and has taken steps to protect her children and herself. She is left without income and benefits. She has a degree in Elementary Education; however, if she gets a job, her income wouldn't start coming in until fall. If she starts teaching, she would need daycare and will be stretched thin financially trying to support 4 little ones by herself.
Ashley’s time is consumed with applying for jobs, counseling appointments, meeting the physical, mental, and emotional needs of her kids, paying a mortgage on a house she will need to sell, looking for childcare for this fall, all while muddling through the trauma, grieving the life she and the girls once knew, and mourning a person they once trusted and loved.
The community support has truly helped them get through each and every day. In these dark times, so many have stepped forward to offer assistance. Despite the generosity, unknown obstacles have surfaced. Ashley is unable to sell the house until the divorce is final which leaves her with all the bills and mortgage. She also learned the taxes were filed incorrectly so she had to pay back taxes unexpectedly. That is just a fraction of the difficultly she is faced with. Each way she turns, there seems to be unknowns or obstacles standing in her way.
Amidst all of this, Ashley’s focus is and has always been on her little girls. She is trying hard to keep their world as normal as possible. While a move may be inevitable, it is important to keep some stability in their lives. The routines she has established have helped them be successful, happy children and changing that right now is not what is best for them. They love their school, their community, and their wonderful neighbors. They are surrounded by love and this is what truly keeps these girls sparkling. It will also be important to keep some consistency in their lives as continued media coverage will bring up more questions and more hurt.
Ashley and her girls are trying to pick up the pieces of their life and start fresh. She is bruised but not broken. With God’s love and your support, Ashley will rise up and raise strong, stable, loving, and generous girls who will contribute great things to this world.
Ways to Help:
Donate on the gofundme site
Spread the Word! Share this site with others.
Donations are also accepted at RCU’s drive-up. All you need to do is mention Ashley Peggs’ Donation Fund
If you have other ways you can help, please contact Brooke Kaldor or Shannon Camlek
Keep them in your thoughts and prayers
***Please know that all donations go directly to Ashley and her girls.
Statement from Ashley:
"In this time of darkness, the outpouring of love and support has given me a light to focus on. There are no words to truly express how grateful I am to be surrounded by such an amazing community.
My girls and I have been shown so much generosity and compassion from family, friends, neighbors, teachers, staff members, police officers, and even complete strangers. There have been countless meals, donations, groceries, surprises for the girls, letters, gift cards, and diapers…the list goes on. Every thought–big or small–has been such a blessing to us and we could not get through this time without each of you. Moving forward, I will continue to focus on my amazing little girls and on the love and goodness you have all shown me. I will look for the silver lining each day and do my best to teach my girls to be better, not bitter as we make lemonade from a situation full of lemons.
Each of you is a blessing to me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Co-organizers (3)
Brooke Kaldor
Organizer
Eau Claire, WI
Ashley Peggs
Beneficiary
Ashley Lien
Co-organizer
Shannon Camlek
Co-organizer