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Harper is a single parent of three children under 7 - help us after a house fire

Harper and three children under 7 need a bridge to stability after a house fire.

🇺🇸 United States3,209 views
Harper E. Howell
Email verified
Los Angeles
Since a house fire in March, I'm now raising three children under 7 on my own. I work as a part-time receptionist, but my income doesn't cover rent, childcare and groceries. I'm retraining as a medical coder in the evenings, which will triple my income by June, 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 $4,950 goes: • Rent top-up: $2,150 • Childcare and after-school care: $690 • Groceries and school meals: $1,250 • Course fees and exam costs: $860 Glad we found this place.

Updates from Harper

  1. Update from Los Angeles: we've started the first stage. We're at 36% of the goal. Thank you for believing in us.

  2. Good news. Because of your gifts ($1,182 in total) the plan for childcare and after-school care is now scheduled. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

  3. Update from Los Angeles: I met with the landlord and confirmed the amounts. We're at 9% of the goal. Thank you for believing in us.

  • Agus Aditya Maulana 🇮🇩 · $25

    “God bless. Hope the June deadline works out. - Bekasi”

  • Fatema Tahmina Pramanik 🇧🇩 · $25

    “Take care of yourselves. Only $25 but hope it helps. - Savar”

  • Kagiso P. Mabaso 🇿🇦 · $30
  • Pavel Mahin Sarker 🇬🇧 · $100
  • Amparo W. Lara 🇦🇷 · $200

    “Every little bit. Small amount but sent with love. - Córdoba”

  • Klaus Frank Schulze 🇩🇪 · $20

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

  • Ravi J. Kushwaha 🇮🇳 · $5

    “Thought of Harper all day after reading this. - Nagpur”

  • Teguh Fajar Kurniawan 🇮🇩 · $50
  • Hendra Aditya Pane 🇮🇩 · $20
  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $5

    “Hope the June deadline works out. - Durgapur”

  • Angela F. Jones 🇬🇧 · $20

    “Thought of Harper all day after reading this. - Manchester”

  • Alexa C. Webb 🇺🇸 · $30
  • Ivy F. Dean 🇦🇺 · $70
  • Aarav W. Prajapati 🇮🇳 · $50
  • Agnès Guyot 🇫🇷 · $64
  • Felix Frank Krüger 🇩🇪 · $75

    “Wish I could do more. Hope the June deadline works out. - Regensburg”

  • Maria L. Reyes 🇵🇭 · $15
  • Aarti N. Randhawa 🇮🇳 · $10
  • Anonymous 🇧🇷 · $10

    “Wishing you the best. Hope the June deadline works out. - Vitória da Conquista”

  • Adrián Galindo 🇪🇸 · $33

    “Hope it all works out. I'm in Alcalá de Henares, thinking of you. - Alcalá de Henares”

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  • So sorry you're going through this, Harper. This could happen to any of us. Put this on a community board in East London this morning.

    • Logan RadcliffeVerified organization

      Rooting for you. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Greetings from Frankfurt.

      • Sending good thoughts, Harper. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. After 30 years in social work I know how hard it's to ask for anything. Blessings.

        • Keep going, Harper. I hope your landlord gives you a bit more time while this comes together. This is the second need I've supported on here and the first that made me cry. God bless

          • Omolara Temitope SalamiQuestionPhoto verified

            is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Harper.

            • Harper E. HowellOwnerAnswer

              Sure. The biggest one is rent top-up, $2,150. The rest is in the list at the bottom of the post and I'll upload receipts as I pay each one. Thanks for looking so closely.

          • wishing you the best, Harper. Rent stress is the worst. Hope this helps. Love from Phuket.

            • Kiran Laiba RanaPhoto verified

              Hang in there. A secure home matters so much. Hope you're settled soon. I hope June is when things finally get easier

              • hang in there. Shared it with a few friends. My neighbor had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. Take care.

                • take care. I hope your landlord gives you a bit more time while this comes together. God bless.

                  • praying for you, Harper. It takes guts to ask. Well done. I have a 8 year old who wants to send good wishes too.

                    • So sorry you're going through this, Harper. I was in a similar spot a few years ago and it did get better. Don't be hard on yourself for asking. Blessings.

                      • Good luck, Harper. Shared it with a few friends. Thinking of Los Angeles.

                        • Sending good thoughts, Harper. Hope you get there. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. All the best.

                          • Sending good thoughts, Harper. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Read this on the bus and kept thinking about it all day. Greetings from Sacramento

                            • You're not alone, Harper. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Take care.

                              • Sending good thoughts. Shared it with a few friends. Read this on the bus and kept thinking about it all day.

                                • Sending love, Harper. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. After 9 years in customer support I know how hard it is to ask for anything.

                                  • Hang in there, Harper. I was in a similar spot a few years ago and it did get better. My late mom used to say help given quietly counts double. Love from Pasig.

                                    • Praying for you, Harper. Hope you get there. We're a small family in Caruaru but we're thinking of you. Take care

                                      • I was in a similar spot a few years ago and it did get better. My cousin had a similar thing happen so this one hit home.

                                        • keep going. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Thinking of Los Angeles.

                                          • Thinking of you, Harper. Hope you get there. This is the second need I've supported on here and the first that made me cry. Take care.

                                            • hope it all works out, Harper. It takes guts to ask. Well done. Greetings from Paris.

                                              • So sorry you're going through this, Harper. A secure home matters so much. Hope you're settled soon. Love from Pretoria!

                                                • Hang in there, Harper. Rent stress is the worst. Hope this helps. I hope June is when things finally get easier. Take care.

                                                  • Thinking of you and your family, Harper. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did

                                                    • Hope it all works out. A secure home matters so much. Hope you're settled soon. I went through something like this 5 years ago and strangers helped me out. Blessings

                                                      • praying for you, Harper. This could happen to any of us.

                                                        $3,927.50 raised of $4,950

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