Story
This request is being submitted on behalf of a resilient single mother under DCFS supervision who is the sole caregiver to her three children two adult sons with autism (one non-verbal) and a teenage daughter. Despite facing significant daily challenges, the mother remains committed to maintaining the stability and well-being of her family. She provides full-time, in-home care to both adult sons through the IHSS program, which serves as her primary source of income. Her responsibilities leave little room for outside employment, as her sons require constant supervision and support with daily living tasks. The family is currently in critical need of a new refrigerator. Their current appliance is leaking and unable to maintain safe food storage temperatures, creating serious health and safety concerns. The need is especially urgent given the sons' dietary sensitivities and the mother’s already compromised health, which she has had to place on hold in order to meet the demands of caregiving. The mother has no local support system her closest relatives live in Mexico and there are no alternative funding options available at this time. A new refrigerator will help preserve the family’s stability and allow the mother to continue providing consistent care without further health or financial setbacks.