As a father of two beautiful kids and loving husband to an incredible wife, I've always believed in doing whatever it takes to provide for our little world. But lately, the weight of everyday life has felt heavier than ever—and that’s saying something given my family’s circumstances.

You see, my wife and I both have disabilities. We face challenges daily, but here's where things get tough: while she receives disability benefits, I unfortunately don't, instead doing all I can to try to work. It's a cruel twist of fate, making it nearly impossible to find support in this situation. I've given in and applied for benefits for myself, but as you may well know, that is not an easy or fast process. Nor is it guaranteed. 

I used to work full-time before my health took a turn. Now, with limited physical capacity, every task feels like an uphill battle—but I push forward because our family’s future is at stake here. I was delivering groceries for Instacart as much as I could, but even that modest income barely scraped by. Most weeks, even working 6-8 hours a day, it totaled around $200, which isn't enough to cover basic expenses let alone repairs needed on my 20 year old truck! I was making less than my wife's disability benefits! Even standing on the corner next to walmart with a sign that says Instacart isn't enough does nothing to help our situation. With my truck in such poor condition, I don't even deliver groceries now so that I don't completely break it. I'm even forced to get rides to appointments that are almost 200 miles away using my insurance. It's a crucial part of my sense of independence that I'm now deprived of. 

The financial strain has been relentless; our credit card balance is growing faster than we can pay it off—and honestly, I feel like we’re drowning. It's taken everything I can do to keep it under $5k. I'd like to say it’s important for us to maintain a sense of dignity and self-respect as individuals who want more from life despite our circumstances, but like many of you, we're so far behind that we can't afford to focus on such things. I've also understandably been struggling with depression and anxiety, even moreso now due to having to live on $1200 a month. Plus, tax season is upon us. This was my first year with 1099 income, and I'm completely unprepared for what I'm going to see when I file. I don't even know if I'm going to owe money or not. 

That's why I'm reaching out with a plea that's both deeply embarrassing and incredibly urgent. We need your help—not just financially but emotionally supporting this family determined not to give up. Every bit counts: $5 or $20 or even $100 can make all the difference in keeping us afloat amidst these stormy waters of life's unexpected trials.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts if you decide to help in any way possible, whether financially or just spreading the word about what we're trying to do here. It means more than words can say during these hectic times.