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Back on our feet: Christopher and a toddler and a seven-year-old in Southampton

A single mother in Southampton needs help with childcare, groceries and rent while Christopher retrains.

🇬🇧 Southampton, England, United Kingdom2,461 views
Christopher Cole
Email verifiedPassport verifiedPhoto verified
Southampton
After a long illness in July, I'm now raising a toddler and a seven-year-old on my own. I work as a driver, but my income doesn't cover rent, childcare and groceries. I'm retraining as a bookkeeper in the evenings, which will triple my income by October, but I need to bridge the gap until then. Some weeks I skip meals so my children can eat. I have never asked anyone for help like this before, and I'm doing it for them. Once I finish my course, I'll pay it forward. Every cent is accounted for. I'll share a simple monthly breakdown. Where the $3,300 goes: • Rent top-up: $1,350 • Childcare and after-school care: $610 • Groceries and school meals: $750 • Course fees and exam costs: $590 I'll pay this kindness forward the moment I'm able to.

Updates from Christopher

  1. Update from Southampton: the plan for course fees and exam costs is now scheduled. We're at 25% of the goal. Thank you for believing in us.

  2. We're at 20% thanks to 13 of you. the plan for groceries and school meals is now scheduled. More news soon.

  • Charlotte G. Molina 🇺🇸 · $200
  • Busisiwe L. Pretorius 🇿🇦 · $200

    “Sending love. Thought of Christopher all day after reading this. - Soweto”

  • Zaid Karim Nasser 🇪🇬 · $100

    “Sending love. Please keep us posted. - Heliopolis”

  • Damilola Nkechi Jimoh 🇳🇬 · $100
  • Büşra Meltem Doğan 🇳🇱 · $100

    “Stay strong. Gave what I could this week. - Utrecht”

  • Vihaan B. Bajwa 🇮🇳 · $100
  • Fabiana Rafaela Albuquerque 🇧🇷 · $77
  • Priya N. Malhotra 🇬🇧 · $64
  • Manal Mona Rahman 🇪🇬 · $59
  • Tarun M. Thakur 🇮🇳 · $51
  • Anonymous 🇺🇬 · $50

    “Blessings. Hope the October deadline works out. - Entebbe”

  • Sofia Alyona Sergeev 🇷🇺 · $50

    “You got this. Shared with friends too. - Yekaterinburg”

  • Audrey E. Gibson 🇺🇸 · $50
  • Isabela Gonçalves 🇧🇷 · $50

    “Happy to help. Hope the October deadline works out. - Duque de Caxias”

  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $39

    “Every little bit. I'm in Phoenix, thinking of you.”

  • Asif Anisur Sultana 🇮🇳 · $36
  • Mauricio G. López 🇪🇸 · $33
  • Sowmya S. Venkatesh 🇮🇳 · $30
  • Anonymous 🇳🇬 · $30
  • Jahid Karim Banerjee 🇮🇳 · $30

    “All the best. Hope the October deadline works out. - Agra”

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  • Sending good thoughts, Christopher. I hope things turn around soon. After 16 years in social work I know how hard it's to ask for anything. God bless.

    • Rotimi Seyi KaluAddress verified

      Thinking of you, Christopher. I hope your landlord gives you a bit more time while this comes together. Greetings from Tema.

      • Hope it all works out. Looking forward to the next update. Don't lose heart. A few weeks ago I was in a hole too and it changed faster than I expected. God bless.

        • Hang in there, Christopher. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Wish I lived closer to San Jose so I could bring a meal. Greetings from Cardiff

          • a secure home matters so much. Hope you're settled soon. Take care.

            • Jade RogersID verified

              Shared this with my family. My brother had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. Thinking of Southampton

              • Wishing you the best, Christopher. It takes guts to ask. Well done. Greetings from Valencia

                • Rooting for you, Christopher. Looking forward to the next update. I told my book club about it and three of them are giving too!

                  • Keep going, Christopher. It takes guts to ask. Well done.

                    • Best of luck, Christopher. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Love from Onitsha

                      • Karanja Evans SimiyuAddress verified

                        Gave what I could, wish it was more. Thinking of Southampton.

                        • Sending good thoughts, Christopher. Shared it with a few friends. I'll check back for the next update.

                          $1,822.50 raised of $3,300

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