Essex County Family Struggles To Save Childhood Home (UPDATED)

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Kimberly Reynolds of Maplewood has lived in her family's house since she was 6, but it's been hard for her to stay.

As with many families, rising costs and health issues have forced Reynolds and her mother, Sharon, to struggle financially.

"We're pretty much lifelong Maplewood residents at this point," Reynolds said recently, explaining why she started a GoFundMe. "They closed on the house the day after my sixth birthday in 1991. My father died in 1996 and my mother has basically been trying to keep this house all on her own ever since, through many trials an tribulations. She was a registered nurse director for 45 years."

Reynolds' stepdad also lives there, but in 2019, he had to have his leg amputated below the knee. He gets dialysis three times a week.

"As my GoFundMe says, things just got rough in 2019 when my stepdad became a below the knee amputee and things continued to be strained," Reynolds said. "My mother had to retire early. I lost my job at the beginning of 2020 after taking a leave of absence from my job to help with stepdad who has dialysis three times a week. We just need help catching up. The bank is working with us but anything would help us make good faith payments."

On the GoFundMe, Reynolds says she's embarrassed to have started it, but any contributions help.

"Well this is difficult. I'm not sure what to say or how to start this without being embarrassed or ashamed that I cannot fix this myself," she wrote. "I am starting this GoFundMe to try and save my childhood home. During the last three years life has become more complicated than I ever thought possible. Job loss, several medical emergencies, a basement fire, the pandemic etc."

The family had raised $1,900 toward their $6,000 goal when this story was initially written, but as of Monday, $900 more had come in to help.

Reynolds says she's grateful, as the money will go to food and bills.

"Monday is my mother's birthday," she said on Friday, June 23, "she'll be glad to know people want to help us."

Read more about her family's situation and contribute here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/94twrn-help-save-family-home