I know you receive many requests for deserving families.  I would like to take a moment to tell you about a family that could really use a break.  (Name with held) is a friend of mine who a couple of years ago started plans to obtain an American dream of becoming a small business owner.  She researched tanning salons, developed a business plan, started saving money and eventually took out a loan for the difference to start to make this dream a reality.  She opened her salon on November 17, 2007.  During the construction phase she ran into issues with an unethical builder who took payment for some construction for the walls of the salon; started the work; didn't finish it and were unable to be reached.  This added to her opening costs, which left her in a position to open her salon without any working capital as she had originally budgeted to do.  She has continued to work part time outside of the salon hours in an effort to keep everything going.

About ten months ago, her husband left her and her two kids.  Due to the loss of his income, they eventually lost their house.  Her and her two teen age children ended up living out of the salon for a couple of months.  Scraping and saving, she was able to finally rent a house in October.  Her estranged husband took the only vehicle the family had, leaving her and the children to walk to school and work.  I am not good with judging distance but I know it must be at least 4 miles to work everyday.  Her salon is open twelve hours every day.  She then walks to some houses to do cleaning after hours for additional income.



Not having a vehicle and living in a more rural area has created many problems for her in just trying to get groceries and get her daughter, who has juvenile diabetes, to her appointments and the pharmacy.

A vehicle would allow mom to gain evening employment where she could make more money as she continues to grow her business.  This would also decrease her stress regarding her daughter's regular doctor appointments and testing that is needed for someone living with a chronic disorder.


Her children are amazing!! Through all of the trials this last year has brought, they have not missed school and maintain honor roll grades.  In fact, her son, recently was honored at an awards banquet for National Honor Society for his grades.  Her teenagers have had their lifestyle that they are used to completely taken away along with dealing with the fact that their father left them.

She is a very strong woman who does not easily ask for help.  I know she would never ask for this.


Thank you so much for your consideration.  I would love to know that 2008 might end with a blessing for a family who over the last couple of years have struggled and lost so much.