LIBERTY — The arrest of a 24-year-old Youngstown mother has quickly garnered national attention, and an outpouring of community and national support has generated more than $100,000 for the family’s housing needs.

Shaina Bell was arrested Feb. 11 after the children’s father called Trumbull County 911 and reported her two children were left unattended in a room at the Motel 6 in Liberty. According to police reports, officers found her working at a local pizza shop.

She was released on a personal recognizance bond after appearing before Judge Jeffrey Adler and pleading not guilty to two counts of child endangering. She is due back in court April 7.

According to reports and police Chief Toby Meloro, the children’s father called police after being informed one child was not in school that day.

“It’s our duty to respond, and my officers did the right thing. At the end of the day we want what’s best for the mother and the children, and we sympathize with her, but she needed to use better judgment,” Meloro said. “We will do what we can to support them.”

A GoFundMe account was created in Bell’s name to help the family. According to the donation page, “This campaign was created to help Shaina and her children raise the money they need in order to secure permanent and safe housing. Everything raised will go directly to establishing a safe and permanent home for (the family).”

The account was created Feb. 14 with a goal of $5,000. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than $100,000 had been raised.

“We understand that everyone has a story and we are grateful that you are listening to ours,” the donation website states. “From the bottom of our hearts, we not only appreciate the financial contributions, but also the outpouring of support in the form of kind words and understanding.”

Bell’s arrest and subsequent story happened to make it into the national spotlight as the story was picked up by the website vice.com and various other media outlets.

To further the national attention given to Bell and her children, Cleveland Cavaliers center JaVale McGee donated $5,000 to the GoFundMe.

Also, president of Quality Control Music, Pierre Thomas, donated $10,000 to Bell and her children. Thomas found out about Bell after seeing a post on Instagram. He commented on the post, “Someone get me this young lady’s info. My mom used to have to do the same thing when we were young, not cause of abandonment issues, it’s because people can’t afford child care working at a pizza shop. She wasn’t hanging out at a club; she was at work.”

A common theme among many of the comments say they understand how difficult being a single mother is and some have been put in similar situations.

“I’m a single mother and I know how it feels not to have a babysitter and still have to go to work so you can provide. My heart goes out to all single mothers. I’m praying for all of us,” one comment read.

The organizer of the GoFundMe, McGee and Thomas could not be reached for comment on various platforms. A phone number for Bell could not be located.

nhawthorne@tribtoday.com