Sasha Kimmet Urgently Needs a New Roof

My goddaughter. Sasha Kimmet, lives in the Pacific Northwest where it rains a lot. Which is why, when the roof of her trailer sprung a leak, and then another, and another, this immediately constituted a crisis. Water is coming down the walls and soaking the baseboards, and there are leaks over both the stove and the living room window. It's raining while I write this, and it's a good bet that it will be raining when you read this. Sasha Kimmet needs immediate help to replace her leaking roof.

Sasha is a single mother of two busy and inquisitive boys under the age of eight. She works a full time job as the drive-thru coordinator for a fast food restaurant to cover all the basic needs of her family: food, shelter, clothing. She's young and strong and a loving mother. She lives for her boys. She also has little to no safety net. This repair is urgently needed, so there's no time to scrimp and save such a large amount, even if there was much flex in her budget. Her income is simply too small, and every dollar is already allotted to some basic need.

[Photo: her kids, Noah and Michael, looking jazzed in the back seat of the car.]

I've known Sasha since the first breath she took in this world. Her mother, Suzy, and I have been friends since 7th grade algebra class, which is more years ago than I care to admit. When I became her godmother, I made a lifelong commitment to her wellbeing. I've watched her grow into an indomitable young woman, and later into a fierce and loving mother. I wish I could wave my fairy godmother wand and make this repair for her, but they didn't actually hand out magic wands at her christening. Anything you can spare to help Sasha get a new roof will be so greatly appreciated.

[Photo: me, Sasha, and Sasha's mother, Suzy, at Sasha's christening. Check out my excellent perm.]

Sasha has gotten quotes between $6000 and $8700 to remove the old roof, replace it, and haul the old roof away. The roof itself is at least 15 years old, which is about the life of this kind of roof. She was told the seals are separating from the house around the periphery, which is why so many leaks happened all at once. The Pacific Northwest is a very rainy place, and the roof needs to be replaced urgently.

[Photo: the outside edge of Sasha's roof. Not looking great.]

[Photo: where leaking water has damaged the baseboards, which had to be removed.]

I understand that it's hard out there for most of us, and that you may not be able to contribute yourself. It would be greatly appreciated if you could repost this fundraiser even if you can't contribute. Please, please help literally keep a roof over my goddaughter's head.

--Ceridwen Christensen