Kind of a catch-22 situation for this woman at the time.
A 35-year-old mother named Shanesha Taylor was homeless with two children – a 6-month-old and a 2-year-old – when she had a job interview on March 21st.
Obviously the mommy couldn’t afford a babysitter, and had to leave her kids in her car for about 45 minutes.
Well, when some saw two children in a car parked under the hot sun with the doors closed and the windows only cracked, they thought something must be wrong and called the police.
The Arizona police subsequently arrived and arrested Shanesha, and took her kids away from her. Something which deeply hurt her — especially since she didn’t land the job.
Even the police felt bad when they originally arrested her. Here’s what Scottsdale Police Sergeant Mark Clark said at the time:
“She was upset. This is a sad situation all around. She said she was homeless. She needed the job. Obviously not getting the job. So it’s just a sad situation.”
Shanesha’s mug shot featured the mother visibly and deeply upset, and that photo has caused support to rain down from across the country!
Someone started a charity fund-raising site set up for her on her behalf. The momma has raised over $88,000 since it appeared online — which is about $6,200 per day!!!
Although police placed her children in Child Protective Services after the arrest, something which happened because Shanesha was charged and booked for child abuse, the donation website has since proclaimed her children are with family now.
The money was supposed to only cover Shanesha’s $9,000 bail money, but since the money has obviously exceeded that amount – the homeless momma is hoping to use the dough to enrich her kids’ lives!
And it’s all thanks to that mug shot! Here’s what Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Brian Smith said:
“It’s an extremely powerful photograph, one of the most striking booking mugs I’ve ever seen.”
Here’s what Shanesha Taylor said on the YouCaring website recently:
“Thank you to all who love and support me. I am home and safe… I appreciate everyone who felt move(d) enough to help a complete stranger.”
Who knew that getting arrested could ever lead to such amazing changes in your life?!
[Image via YouCaring.]
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