Help Linda and Her Family Get Back on Their Feet!

Hi, my name is Katie and I am raising funds for Linda Bennett and her family, which includes her daughter Michelle and her graddaughter Nasya.

 

 

How I Met Linda

You may recognize Linda from my facebook page, as she has been a dear friend since I met her at the Camden Street Learning Garden in Raleigh, NC back in 2015. I had just started the garden the year prior and Linda walked by one day, curious about what was going on. We got to talking and she began visiting every few days. After awhile she became a community gardener at the garden and she and I grew closer. Linda shared with me about how difficult her life had become.

 

She was a victim of domestic violence, which was still ongoing, she was struggling with poverty, and she was working a series of physically demanding jobs to make ends meet. She had recently lost her mother and her son a few years earlier and the garden became a place of serenity and peace for her in her grief. My coworkers and I worked to provide her as much support as we could and eventually a fellow community gardener convinced her to get the help she needed to find safe housing, therapy, and a new life, free from her abuser.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working Towards Towards A Better Life

Linda is one of the strongest and hardest working people I have ever met. She has worked so hard over the past couple of years to make a new life for herself. She has newfound confidence and a deep desire to do all she can to support her family. Currently, Linda, Michelle, and Nasya (who is pregnant with Linda's first great grandchild) share a small two bedroom apartment in SE Raleigh. Linda has been in the process of looking for a bigger home to rent so each of the women will have their own room. It is a long held dream of hers and one that recently has been right within her reach.

 

 

The Day Everything Fell Apart

Things were really looking up for the family when two weeks ago, Michelle experienced a medical emergency and lost feeling in both of her legs, making her unable to walk. She had to have emergency spinal surgery at Wake Med earlier this week and is currently in rehabilitation. Michelle has spent the past seven years working at the Raleigh Convention Center and provides a large amount of the family's income. Unfortunately, she does not have health insurance through her job, which has been very stressful for the family.

 

 

Thankfully, Wake Med hospital has covered the majority of Michelle's medical expenses but there are still a number of new expenses the family will have to take on themselves in addition to attempting to cover their basic expenses (rent, food, transportation) over the next six months while Michelle is unable to return to work.

 

Linda, who is in her sixties, will have to take on more hours at work cleaning houses while also needing to take care of Michelle while she recovers, and helping Nasya with the baby, who is due in mid June. She is incredibly overwhelmed with how rapidly things have changed and how much she is responsible for. The dream of a bigger apartment is gone for now and she worries that they may not even be able to afford to stay in their current housing.

 

 

How You Can Help!

I want to show Linda that she is not alone and that there are many wonderful people out there who are rooting for her. Over the past few years, I have reached out to my community to collect donations of items Linda and her family have needed, and so many incredibly generous people have supported my efforts. Linda and her family need our help now more than ever. I am hosting this GoFundMe on their behalf to raise the funds needed to hopefully cover their new medical expenses and rent for a couple months while they figure out how to cope with all of these changes and get back on their feet.

Will you help me rally around Linda and her family and support them during this very difficult time in their lives?

I know Linda would be immensely grateful for any support you can give. She has a very difficult time asking for help, and I am so happy she trusted me enough to ask. Thank you for your support!




Please Help Us Spread the Word!  Please share this anywhere you can and encourage family and friends to share as well. Every share truly makes a difference. Make sure to check back for updates on how Linda and her family are doing.