I'm setting up this fundraiser on behalf of my friends Kimberly and Joshua Menken, whose family of nine is walking through a tough stretch and could use some extra support to get to the other side of it.
On June 4, Joshua lost his long-term, full-time job in UX. He was not eligible for severance pay. They had hoped retirement savings would be enough until new jobs were landed. While seeking new jobs, Josh started part-time work at Costco on August 7. However, on August 18 — after her first day at a new part-time job in education — Kimberly broke her left kneecap when she slipped on their patio going out to play with their daughter, Aria Joy. Kimberly had extensive surgery that left her with screws, a plate, and a delayed return to driving and her new job.
Throughout the summer, the family has been doing everything they can to keep things afloat: living off retirement savings, gifts from family, food banks, Josh working part-time while interviewing for full-time jobs, and the oldest five kids picking up part-time work and entrepreneurial projects over the summer. Even with all of that, it is not enough to close the gap on its own, and that's where this fund comes in.
Our goal is $10,000, which will go toward:
- Food and gas
- Dorchester County Water & Sanitation and Dominion Energy bills
- Medical expenses
- Bills, household expenses, and anything the kids need for school and daily life
