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Help Sarah get through 4 hard months with a teenage son and a daughter in primary school

A single father in Ottawa needs help with childcare, groceries and rent while Sarah retrains.

Anywhere in the world3,621 views
Sarah Padilla
Email verified
Ottawa
After the death of my husband in November, I'm now raising a teenage son and a daughter in primary school on my own. I work as a hairdresser, but my income doesn't cover rent, childcare and groceries. I'm retraining as a pharmacy technician in the evenings, which will triple my income by February, 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 $5,000 goes: • Rent top-up: $2,050 • Childcare and after-school care: $1,250 • Groceries and school meals: $840 • Course fees and exam costs: $860 Even a small gift gets used right away and I'll thank you myself.
#single-parent#family#stability

Updates from Sarah

  1. Quick update: $1,195 raised so far (24%). I made the first payment toward childcare and after-school care. Receipts coming as soon as I have them.

  2. Update from Ottawa: we've started the first stage. We're at 10% of the goal. Thank you for believing in us.

  3. Quick update: $423 raised so far (8%). we've booked the dates and paid the deposit. Receipts coming as soon as I have them.

Donations

RecentTop gifts
  • Anderson Ferreira 🇧🇷 · $250

    “Stay strong! - Juiz de Fora”

  • Apichart Weerasak Sombat 🇹🇭 · $100
  • Hadi Hadi Yuliani 🇮🇩 · $100
  • Fatima Aleena Rehman 🇵🇰 · $100
  • Patrícia Juliana Mendes 🇧🇷 · $100

    “Best of luck. Hope the February deadline works out. - Campinas”

  • Bolaji Seyi Ajayi 🇳🇬 · $100

    “Praying for you. Gave what I could this week. - Onitsha”

  • Patrick R. Campbell 🇯🇲 · $100

    “Take care of yourselves. Hope the February deadline works out. - Half-Way Tree”

  • Davi Luiz Freitas 🇧🇷 · $59.50
  • Fani Yanti Gunawan 🇮🇩 · $58

    “Hope the February deadline works out. - Jakarta”

  • Martine Chloé Deschamps 🇫🇷 · $53
  • Kyriakos Papanikolaou 🇬🇷 · $50
  • Landon J. Bowers 🇬🇧 · $50
  • Josiane Beatriz Amaral 🇧🇷 · $50
  • Faith W. Howell 🇬🇧 · $50
  • Chiara Teresa Leone 🇮🇹 · $50
  • Carmen E. Herrera 🇪🇸 · $50

    “Best of luck. My brother told me about this one. - Bilbao”

  • Anonymous 🇧🇷 · $50

    “Best of luck. I'm in Guarulhos, thinking of you. - Guarulhos”

  • Raymond S. Holland 🇺🇸 · $50
  • Anna Sara Van der Meer 🇳🇱 · $42.50
  • Neelam B. Kapoor 🇮🇳 · $40

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Questions & comments

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  • Hazel F. Macaraeg

    Best of luck. Hope you get there. It's not much but it's yours

    • Paisley K. OrtegaAddress verified

      thinking of you. A secure home matters so much. Hope you're settled soon. My neighbor in Coventry donated after I showed her your page.

      • Janet T. ParksQuestion

        Can I help in a way that isn't money? I'm near Ottawa

        • Sarah PadillaOwnerAnswer

          Thank you. If you're in Ottawa I'll say if something practical comes up. For now sharing this is great. Appreciate you taking the time.

      • Greyson F. Quincy

        Take care, Sarah. Hope you get there. Take care

        • Lemlem Eleni LegesseQuestion

          what exactly is the $5,000 for?

          • Sarah PadillaOwnerAnswer

            Everything on the list is an amount I've been quoted or invoiced. rent top-up comes first ($2,050) and I'll update the page as each thing gets paid.

        • Loan Hằng Thai

          Thinking of you and your family, Sarah. I hope things turn around soon. My neighbor in Odesa donated after I showed her your page. Blessings.

          • Carmen K. Pacheco

            Best of luck, Sarah. Shared this with my family.

            • Rabia Shaista Siddiqui

              Rooting for you, Sarah. Gave what I could, wish it was more. We lost years of savings to something like this so I get it.

              • Luca W. Kirby

                Your post was clear and honest. It's not much but it's yours. God bless

                • Genesis P. Patel

                  Thinking of you and your family. Hope you get there. My daughter saw me on my phone and now she wants to give her pocket money. Love from Varanasi

                  • Selin Derya Bayram

                    Take care. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Put this on a community board in Adama this morning

                    $2,042.50 raised of $5,000

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