Help Valentina and Silvana Build a New Life

My name is Melissa Baker-Boosamra. I am a long-time resident of Grand Rapids and I believe deeply in the power of community. I also believe that there is nothing more important than seeing ourselves in one another and lending a hand when someone needs it.

I have never asked for help via Go Fund Me before.

I am asking you to consider supporting Valentina and Silvana, two beautiful, smart, strong, and capable sisters from Colombia who now live in Grand Rapids and who are facing multiple challenges in meeting their basic needs. I met Silvana on the basketball court at the YMCA. Both girls played basketball throughout school and attending university in Colombia. Valentina and Silvana have had dealt with several very unfortunate events and now, they need a hand to start building their new life in our community. Once they have housing and transportation, there will be no stopping them!

Please see Valentina's story below:

My name is Valentina Alfonso, last year in May I decided to come as an Aupair (nanny) to work and study with an American family. Unfortunately, 2 months later, a drunk and drugged driver crashed the car in which I was a passenger, causing a very serious spinal cord injury and leaving me paralyzed for life, in a wheelchair. My sister (age 19) is now my caregiver.

I live with my sister in a friend's house where it is completely inaccessible, I cannot access the kitchen or the bathroom so I relieve myself in the room and to bathe I have to go to a gym or bathe in the room as well. We are grateful that we now have the opportunity to live in an apartment that is being remodeled to be accessible, but we still need to cover some costs of remodeling to make the space accessible and we will need basic home furnishings. We hope to live in a home where I can work on my independence and be able to little by little recover what someone took from me.

In August we managed to save some money to buy our car which allows my sister to work and support us, and also to transport myself to my medical appointments and so on. Unfortunately today while my sister was warming up the car to go to work, she came back into the house to get something and when she came back out the car was gone - someone stole our car.

This is very exhausting and we really appreciate people who can help us in any way. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and being able to help me through this long and painful process.

Thank you,

Valentina Alfonso