An estimate

March 5th, 2010 by Elizabeth Kaylene

Katy has updated her blog with an estimate of how much it would cost for her, Liz, and their two chihuahuas to move from California to Pennsylvania.

She wrote:

If you want to help, renting a truck to bring what belongings we have from California to Pennsylvania costs a bit over $1000. If you don’t believe that, feel free to look it up at any moving company’s website. Taking one dog crate on a plane costs around $150, and two chihuahuas could fit comfortably in a large crate. You can’t take dogs on any trains or buses. I forget how much our airfare would be. The total would be aroun $4000. If you’re interested in helping and don’t want to give us the money, contact my mom (hugheselizabeth@rocketmail.com) and if you wanted to, you could rent the truck or get the airfare or whatever in our place, without ever giving us any money.

She also asks that people please stop sending them hate mail.

Let’s show our girls some support and send them some un-hate mail. Please send a quick note of encouragement to:

Elizabeth and Katy Hughes
PO Box 111525
Campbell, CA 95011

If you’d like to help further, you can find the details on Katy’s latest blog post.

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Posted in Updates on Our Girls | No Comments »

Artwork for sale

February 24th, 2010 by Elizabeth Kaylene

Katy is currently selling commissioned artwork in order to raise funds to complete the move to Pennsylvania!

Sketch colored with markers, by Katy Hughes

Sketch colored with markers, by Katy Hughes

Those of you who have been following our girls for some time know that Katy is an accomplished artist. She is currently offering:

  • Abstract oil paintings
  • Pen and marker illustrations
  • Pencil sketches
  • Pen and colored pencil illustrations

You can find more information on how to order, pricing, and what types of drawings Katy does over on her blog.

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Posted in How to Help | 1 Comment »

Katy returns to blogging

February 14th, 2010 by Elizabeth Kaylene

I’ve been seeing a lot of people claiming that Liz and Katy are scam artists, including a few comments on this blog and on other blogs. Everyone is of course entitled to their own opinions, but I have to stand up and say that I have not had any reason to doubt that Liz and Katy are telling the truth. Until I find concrete proof that they are scamming people, I am going to continue to update this blog with their progress and ways to help. I do not know either of them personally, but I have been in close contact with them since I first heard of their situation.

If you are concerned about the legitimacy of their story and don’t want to donate money, that’s fine. Please consider sending them a note to say hello and to help keep their spirits up. I know that right now they are both very discouraged and frustrated with their situation. As far as I know, they are trying very hard to find work and to make their way to Pennsylvania, where a benefactor has housing and employment waiting for them.

Katy has temporarily returned to her blog to update everyone on their situation. You can also find ways to help on the Facebook group created by Christina Deptula, Let’s help out Katy Hughes:

Hi everyone – unfortunately, Katy and Liz are back living in their car after several months of diligently looking for work. I know them personally and have published their writing..also news stations have checked them out.

They do have a friend in Pennsylvania who offered housing and help in finding work…but that person can’t afford moving costs, so the Hugheses are raising the cash.

I know many folks through Synchronized Chaos Magazine so would like to organize a sale/auction event online where people write or create items to sell and the proceeds go to the Hugheses…via purchasers agreeing to donate to Liz’ PayPal button or by sending prepaid cards.

Anyone interested in helping out/purchasing/contributing artwork or writing or other items? Here’s a link to a post I made in the Livejournal communty Save Our Sooj, which pulled off a similar and extremely successful effort for a songwriter/singer with large medical bills.

http://community.livejournal.com/saveours00j/

Throughout our discussions on this blog, let’s continue to refrain from using any vulgar language. The Letters of Love community fosters hope, friendship, and love. Please review our Terms of Service. Thank you to everyone who has been polite, regardless of your stance.

Letters of Love is, first and foremost, a pen pal support group. I’d like to invite you to join our community so that you can enjoy our groups and find a pen pal.

Hugs and love.

PS: Jody, Liz sent me an email to let me know that they got the gift card and to tell you they said thank you:

hi,

Jody sent us a visa gift card. She said to leave a message with you to let her know we recieved it. We were finally able to check the mail today and it was in there. Please tell her thank you so very much.

Blessings to all of you
liz and katy

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Posted in How to Help, Updates on Our Girls | 9 Comments »

Update: Thursday is moving day, please send donations if you can

January 26th, 2010 by Elizabeth Kaylene

Katy, taken from Katy's old blog

Liz and Katy’s last day at their cottage is this coming Thursday. Liz sent me an update email saying that she still isn’t sure how much it will cost for them to move. Their priority, she said, is to get everything in storage and to have enough money for food, as they aren’t sure if they will be able to afford the move right away and will stay in their car until they can get to Pennsylvania. Here is the email she sent me:

Hi,

I just wanted to give you an update. I am going to have to see how many boxes and tubs I will have before I can get an accurate quote for moving. Also my checking account is messed up again. So if people could send visa or master card gift cards that would be better. I have written action line hoping they can straighten out my checking account. I have never had problems with my bank until this past year now all of a sudden I am having all kinds of problems.

As it stands right now, our very last day in the cottage will be Thursday. The owner will not extend it until all the storms have passed completely. The pastor of that church does not want us in this cottage or anyone from the church to help us since I was trying to earn money instead of sitting in church. I still am finding it hard to believe. What is weird is I started having bad dreams regarding just that a couple of months ago. I cannot believe a Christian pastor would hold that against another Christian especially a single mother and her daughter when the Bible says to help them.

The person back east is trying to find me employment and us an apartment, we just have to somehow get back there now. Our immediate needs will be some way to help pay for storage if we have to spend time in the car and a way to get food while we are living in the car.

If that is going to be the case, our contact via email will be kind of sporadic so you can email both of us. We will use the internet connection at the library when we can.

Thank you again for all of your help and prayers,
Blessings
liz

I have been reading everyone’s comments and sent Liz an email back addressing some of your questions. Things have been crazy on my end, so I apologize for not replying to your comments right away. Thank you all so much for your support.

You can mail Visa and MasterCard gift cards to:

Elizabeth and Katy Hughes
PO Box 111525
Campbell, CA 95011

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Posted in How to Help | 10 Comments »

Please help Liz and Katy move

January 17th, 2010 by Elizabeth Kaylene

I received an email from Liz this evening. Things are not looking good:

Hi,

This is our situation right now. The church said even if we came up with the rent we still have to be out on the 21st. We have an offer in Pennsylvania, we need a way to get train tickets and moving van to move back there. Or just be able to put our things in storage here on Thursday the 21st. As of then, we will be living in the car. Anything will help with this situation that we honestly thought was behind us. It is my fault, I should have gone to church on Sundays instead of making money to feed us by having yard sales on the weekend. This is a rather harsh penalty for not listening to a church sermon. I do believe in God and thought it was said that “God helps those who helps themselves”. I thought I was showing some kind of initiative by earning money to buy food and toilet paper. I know we are totally disillusioned and about at the end of our ropes.
liz

In short, our girls need:

  • donations toward train tickets
  • donations toward a rental moving truck OR a temporary storage facility

They will need everything before the 21st of January.

I have asked Liz for estimates on the cost of the tickets and rental truck. As soon as I hear from her, I will update here. Can we all donate just a little extra money to their PayPal account toward these things? I think if enough of us donate $5, we can help them move. Please check back here or check the Letters of Love Twitter account for updates.

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

A place for questions

January 5th, 2010 by Elizabeth Kaylene

This isn’t really an update, per se, but I have been seeing a lot of comments with questions about Liz and Katy. I wanted to give you all a chance to ask any questions you wanted, and I’ll pass them all on to our girls.

Thank you to everyone who has been reading and commenting. You all have been so helpful. It amazes me what a small group of people all over the country can accomplish. Thank you.

Please leave your questions in the comments below and I will pass them on to Liz and Katy!

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments »

Target gift cards for Liz and Katy

December 21st, 2009 by Elizabeth Kaylene

I just heard back from Liz and she said that Target gift cards would be helpful, as they have a Super Target right near them (the store carries fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy, so it would be perfect for them).

Even $5 will help. You can buy Target gift cards online and have them shipped to Liz and Katy’s P.O. Box, or you can run into your local Target store and mail it to them yourself. (Keep in mind that if you are buying online, you have to purchase at least a $10 gift card. Those with smaller budgets might want to just buy one in-store.)

Regular cash/check donations are appreciated, too, as Liz and Katy can put the money toward rent. And of course, a quick note saying hello is a great way to keep their spirits up.

You can send all of these things to:

Elizabeth and/or Katy Hughes
PO Box 111525
Campbell, CA 95011

Thank you, always, my wonderful friends, for your continued support.

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments »

Please help Liz and Katy keep their apartment

December 20th, 2009 by Elizabeth Kaylene

A few days ago I posted that Liz and Katy needed job leads and gift cards. The response has been amazing! Thank you to everyone who has helped, especially to Jody who posted several job postings. I sent a message on Facebook to Liz letting her know about the ads. She said:

I saw those in the Mercury News this morning. I am going to apply for them. Thank everyone. Hopefully they will lead to employment for me. We only have a couple of weeks, three or four at the most until our Christian Church is going to make us live in the car again.

I asked her for more information and will pass along what I can as soon as I know more.

In the meantime, any other job leads would be great. You can post them here with links to the full ad or with the full text of the ad itself. You can also email them to elizabeth@lettersoflove.net and I will make sure that Liz gets them.

Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. We do not want them to go through a repeat of last year, when they lost their home right after the new year began. Let’s continue to keep our girls safe!

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments »

Liz and Katy need jobs, gift cards

December 15th, 2009 by Elizabeth Kaylene

I got in touch with Katy again this evening (probably something more like afternoon over in California, where she and Liz live). A few weeks ago, someone emailed me asking if Liz and Katy needed anything. I sent a message to Katy on Facebook. She said that what they really need are jobs, or they will have to move again. If you are in California and can help them find a job, whether it’s a point in the right direction or a job offer, that would be much appreciated.

Katy also said that Mastercard gift cards would help a lot, since they can be used anywhere and they can get groceries and other things with the gift cards.

Even $5 is helpful. Please send gift cards and cash to:

Elizabeth and Katy Hughes
P.O. Box 111525
Campbell, CA 95011

You can also send them a quick note or holiday card to boost their spirits. They are very worried that they will have to move again.

Thank you, all, for your continued help and support.

If anyone can think of anything else we should send them, please leave a comment and let me know!

Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments »