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Back on our feet: Derek and a teenage son and a daughter in primary school in Pittsburgh

A single mother in Pittsburgh needs help with childcare, groceries and rent while Derek retrains.

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States2,383 views
Derek Alvarado
Email verified
Pittsburgh
Last August I went through the death of my husband, and I'm now raising a teenage son and a daughter in primary school on my own. I work as a retail cashier, but my income doesn't cover rent, childcare and groceries. I'm retraining as a teaching assistant 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. Money goes toward rent, groceries, after-school care and the cost of my course. I'll give a monthly update with receipts. Where the $4,600 goes: โ€ข Rent top-up: $2,200 โ€ข Childcare and after-school care: $1,150 โ€ข Groceries and school meals: $740 โ€ข Course fees and exam costs: $510 Thank you for reading my story.

Updates from Derek

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  • Subramanian D. Namboothiri ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $197

    โ€œBlessings. Thought of Derek all day after reading this. - Saketโ€

  • Alice Beatrice Ferraro ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น ยท $100

    โ€œHappy to help - Cataniaโ€

  • Mercy W. Dizon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ ยท $100
  • Adewale Victor Shittu ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ ยท $75
  • Nonso Bello Uzor ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ ยท $50
  • Benjamin J. Wheeler ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ยท $50
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ด ยท $50
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ท ยท $30
  • Francisco F. Orozco ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $25

    โ€œHope it all works out. Shared with friends too. - San Sebastiรกnโ€

  • Yodit Tsion Tadesse ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡น ยท $25

    โ€œRooting for you. Only $25 but hope it helps. - Bahir Darโ€

  • Todd E. Foster ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ยท $25

    โ€œHope things get better. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - Sherbrookeโ€

  • Luis Walter Maier ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช ยท $20
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $10

    โ€œAll the best. Thought of Derek all day after reading this.โ€

  • Gianna Hicks ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $10
  • Dieter Dieter Hartmann ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช ยท $10

    โ€œTake care of yourselves. I'm in Wiesbaden, thinking of you. - Wiesbadenโ€

  • Leah M. Delgado ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ ยท $5
  • Samuel F. Francisco ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ ยท $5

    โ€œBe well. Thought of Derek all day after reading this. - Lapu-Lapuโ€

  • Birtukan Wegayehu Girma ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡น ยท $5

    โ€œBlessings. Gave what I could this week. - Gondarโ€

Reviews

3.6(8 reviews)

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

  • Aurora Maria Grassi๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡นVerified donor
    Would recommend to anyone

    I can't speak highly enough about this helper. They were available when I needed them, supportive when I felt lost, and practical in their solutions.

  • Sara Wafa Nabulsi๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ฌVerified helper
    Reliable and compassionate

    The difference this person made in my life cannot be overstated. They were patient, kind, and persistent in helping me find solutions. Truly exceptional.

  • Yogita S. Bhavsar๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณVerified helper
    Helped when no one else could

    I was going through a tough time and this person's support was invaluable. They didn't judge, just helped. That kind of genuine compassion is rare these days.

  • Usha M. Kumar๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณVerified helper
    Professional and kind

    This helper is honest and transparent about what they can do. They didn't overpromise, but they did deliver excellent results. I would definitely trust them again.

  • Ezra A. Lane๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธVerified helper
    Amazing support system

    This is the kind of person who restores your faith in humanity. They didn't just offer help; they genuinely cared about my wellbeing and followed through on every commitment.

  • Karin E. Smith๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆVerified donor
    Exceptional service

    I had a complex problem and this person helped me navigate it step by step. Their expertise combined with their kindness made all the difference.

  • Ayesha Joya Barua๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณVerified helper
    Truly grateful for the support

    This is the kind of person who restores your faith in humanity. They didn't just offer help; they genuinely cared about my wellbeing and followed through on every commitment.

  • Rodrigo Thiago Melo๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ทVerified helper
    Exceptional service

    Perfect example of someone making a real difference. They took time out of their busy schedule to help me and never made me feel like a burden.

Questions & comments

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  • Wishing you peace. A secure home matters so much. Hope you're settled soon. We're a small family in Juazeiro do Norte but we're thinking of you

    • Keep going. Gave what I could, wish it was more. My late mom used to say help given quietly counts double

      • Thanks for sharing this. Hope you get there. Don't be hard on yourself for asking. Love from Brampton.

        • Hope it all works out. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Greetings from Nairobi.

          $792 raised of $4,600

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