Hello, I never thought I would find myself in this position, but many families in California like mine are struggling to keep their children mentally and physically healthy. Schools have been closed for almost a year now with no clear reopening plan in sight. After writing letters, starting campaigns, and speaking passionately at board meetings for my sons’ public school to reopen, I realized that no one was going to to rescue them from the isolation and growth canceling nature of zoom school, so I put them in private school hoping I could find the come up with the money to pay for it over the next few montths.
I have never asked for a handout from anyone my entire life. I have never been on government assistance, and I have always paid taxes. This bill, this private school tuition, wasn’t budgeted or planned for, but it is necessary to keep my children healthy and alive. Suicidal ideation, depression, and emotional regression are rampant among my son’s age group, especially here in the valley. They use to play a variety of sports and they have lost everything now, not just their education.
Our governor refuses to open public schools while he sends his own children to private in person schooling because he knows it is what is best for children, but he can afford it, and so can so many other financially able families. I swear if I knew I would have this bill up and coming, I would have been saving for it for the last two years; I wouldn’t need to ask for help. It hurts to ask for help, but as it stands, I really do actually need it, and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. We have completely cleaned out our savings and will have to go on a payment plan to pay our taxes this year.
If you have the means to help us in anyway, even by sharing this with others who may be able to contribute. I think if I can raise at least 3,000 of the total if would be a tremendous help.
The burden of this debt weighs heavily on my ability to sleep at night, but the smiles on my children’s faces when I pick them up from school each day is immeasurable and priceless. Sadly, there is a price for that smile, there is a price for their happiness and mental health and the remaining balance is 7,644.76. Thank you so much for reading this all the way through and for considering my request.
This is my Paypal Link: paypal.me/Athena104
This is my Venmo ID if it is easier than Paypal @Athena-Ogrady