Support Needed for a Courageous Young Mother

Dear Friends,

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Elissa (EJ) Levy, and I am reaching out to seek your support for a remarkable young woman who was my au pair in 2020. Due to the sensitive nature of her situation, I will keep her details private as she has endured every mother’s worst nightmare.

This young mother recently escaped a traumatic marriage marked by abuse, and she now finds herself in a precarious situation with her three-year-old daughter. To help her regain stability, we are raising funds to purchase a reliable car, which is essential for her to secure employment and provide for her daughter. We aim to raise $12,000, with the purchase of a car estimated at $8,000-$10,000. Additional funds will be used for insurance and gas until she can find a job.

While she dreams of returning to Mexico, where she would be surrounded by loved ones and the safety they provide, by law she is currently unable to leave the country and seeks to create a secure homelife for her daughter here.

I kindly ask you to consider contributing to this cause. Your generosity can make a significant difference in their lives during this difficult time.

Thank you for your compassion and support.

Warm regards,

EJ

Additional Information

After leaving her husband in April, this mother and her daughter stayed with me before moving to a shelter for safety. Through Vermont social services, they now have a rent-free, one-bedroom apartment in a secure building for a year. We’ve been gathering used furniture and receiving donations to help furnish their home. Originally from Mexico, her mother has been sending support, but she is down to her last few hundred dollars. While she is actively seeking a job, she is understandably traumatized and focused on caring for her daughter.

The Department of Children’s Services is covering preschool for her daughter, which will allow her time to heal and find work. However, the nearest preschool is 35 minutes away by car, and without one, they face a daunting 1 hour and 35 minutes commute by bus. Their apartment is in a residential area, and they rely on public transportation for all errands and appointments, including psychological and psychiatric visits.

I have witnessed how the systems meant to protect children have failed. Although the police investigated, the county chose not to prosecute, citing young children as unreliable witnesses, despite a child psychiatrist confirming abuse and the Department of Children’s Services advising against unsupervised visits with the father.

She is currently fighting a civil case with pro bono legal help from the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, but her husband's family has considerable resources and has hired a tough attorney. This case could drag on for months, and her husband has been granted visitation three times a week, supervised by his mother.

While a car won’t resolve these serious issues, it would greatly ease their daily challenges. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions and thank you for your generosity.

Sincerely,

EJ