Thousands of sympathetic netizens rallied in support of a single mother of three who was arrested on charges of child endangerment for allegedly leaving her young kids alone in a motel room while she went to work. According to 21 News, 24-year-old Shaina Bell from Ohio was charged with two counts of child endangering after officers acting on a tip found her 10-year-old and 3-year-old daughters in a Liberty Township motel after 6 p.m. The eldest child reportedly informed the cops that Bell was working a shift at a Little Caesars pizzeria and was expected to be back by 10 p.m. that night.
More than $100K raised for Ohio mom arrested for leaving kids alone at motel to work https://t.co/fYAR6d3sBIpic.twitter.com/1jvajRoEUX
— The Hill (@thehill) February 20, 2021
The officers turned the children over to their father and tracked Bell down at her workplace, where she informed them that she usually has someone check in on her children every hour while she is at work. She was still booked into the Trumbull County jail and charged with two counts of endangering children — a first-degree misdemeanor that carries a possible maximum sentence of six months in jail and fines of up to $1,000. Bell pleaded not guilty to the charges against her at a hearing in Girard Municipal Court and was released on bail Friday.
Women are dammed if they do or damned if they don’t. Stay at home with your kids and receive government assistance and you are a leach, go to work for poverty wages and can’t get consistent sitters and go to jail. https://t.co/9NJxEPgCFs
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) February 15, 2021
Bell’s story quickly struck a chord with netizens across the country, many of whom have struggled to maintain jobs and find child care amid the pandemic. After receiving an outpour of messages from people wanting to help, Bell’s mother, Danielle Hosey, set up a GoFundMe campaign to help establish a safe and permanent home for the young family. The campaign raised over $165k in a week with public figures of the likes of Pierre “Pee” Thomas and Cleveland Cavalier Javale Mcgee making significant contributions to the fund…