Esme, 23 years old, CA | NEEDED BY 03/06

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Esme is a young mom of two and the black sheep in a family of eight kids. She’s been through more than her fair share of abuse and trauma, but what sets her apart is her courage, as she’s the only one in her family who’s willing to stand up for herself. Esme is working hard to break the cycle and be a different kind of parent, learning to handle her emotions and show her daughters the love and stability she never got. Her dream? She wants to be in a stable, respectful relationship so her girls grow up knowing what real respect looks like. She’s ambitious, resilient, and fiercely motivated by her daughters—they’re her whole world, and she refuses to let anything hold her back. She doesn’t see life as a series of punishments or setbacks; she truly believes everything happens for a reason, even the bad stuff. She’s determined to make a better life for herself and her girls, and she’s not stopping until she gets there.

After being unhoused for nearly a year, Esme and her two daughters were able to obtain stable housing a few months ago. Along with their new home came the unexpected news that their family will be growing, as Esme is expecting her third baby. Esme's experience with homelessness is tied to her background in foster care, leaving her with very few people to rely on for support when she faces basic needs like food and household supplies. Esme is requesting assistance in the form of a gift card, which would provide her with the flexibility to gather food for herself, her growing baby, and her two daughters until her food stamps become available early next month. Having the option for delivery to her home would be especially helpful, as her previous toxic relationship limits her ability to travel at this time. This is wish 2 of 2.