Mother in Need

A mothers love is something that is eternal. As children we crave and rely on our mothers unconditional love and guidance. As parents there is nothing we won’t do for our children. In August of 2016, Sonya Dillinger’s life was forever changed. Sonya, a single mother of three beautiful children was awoken by a knock on the door on August 3, 2016 to find a police officer informing her two of her children had been involved in a tragic car accident. Both of her sons, Derek and Devin were in the vehicle and tragically Devin, 16 years old, passed away at the scene. She was told her older son Derek had been driving and was being rushed to the hospital along with two other passengers. As you may imagine, her world was in ruins. One son deceased and another seriously injured. I watched her and her family devastated from their loss, pull together as a family to bury her middle child who was taken far too soon. As time moved on, I watched Sonya and her family slowly recover and start to move on in life accepting the changes that were now their reality. I watched Derek struggle with more than most could ever be expected to recover from emotionally and physically. And just when life was starting to normalize itself for Sonya and her family, their whole world has once again been shaken.

Sonya is now faced with the possibility of losing Derek to the justice system. Her and her family need our help to financially cover legal costs. I ask you to think about what it must feel like walking in her shoes...losing so much already to now fear the loss of losing another child from the same tragic accident. I ask you to please consider donating to help this family stay together and face the struggles ahead with unity and grace. Thank you for your time, Julie Gifford, former educator to Devin and Derek Dienst.