Rescue My Nephew's Time Capsule
Donation protected
I know with the issues that many here are facing, this might seem unimportant in comparison... but I just can't stand to see the situation go by without my trying SOMETHING and this is my last hope. Please. PLEASE read my story.
The picture is of my nephew as a baby almost six years ago. I don't want to post his recent pic for his privacy.
For his first birthday, I wanted to make him something special by hand. Something that he could keep for his whole life and pass down to his child. I am his uncle and because he doesn't have a father I knew it would be important for him as my dad also died when I was very young.
I set out to make his first birthday present. A box which I crafted and designed by hand. It took me months of work and design, because I wanted it not to be any old toy box, but a box that would be very special.
To make it special, I designed a secret compartment that would lock with secret magnetic locking pins. I'd never attempted something like this before but once I had the idea in my head I couldn't shake it.
The idea was that this box would be a toy box for when he was young, but also a time capsule from the first year of his life. When finally built, I used the secret compartment to fill it with photos, special heirlooms and coins and other family items, magazines and other things meaningful from the year he was born.
I was so proud when I was done that I posted it on a woodworking blog that you can visit with the links below. The post dates confirm my story and pictures on this site confirm my story as well.
Blog Posts
Completed Project Post with Pictures
The idea was to show him the secret compartment and unlock it for him when he is 10.
Here is the finished box:
Unfortunately, this plan may not happen now.
My sister, his mother, was an EMS who after being called to some very horrific deaths was diagnosed with PTSD. She sank into depression and lost her job and home. My nephew and his baby brother now live with my mother who unfortunately receives $2,000 less per month than what a foster family would receive to care for the same two boys. On her fixed income and with me living so far away, it's a very hard situation but we've been doing our best.
I have tried to help as much as I can, but unfortunately I am now strapped for cash as well.
When she lost her home, all her belongings, including my nephews box, were placed in storage. I asked for the box to be kept apart but she ASSURED me that it was just temporary. That was over a year ago.
Since she couldn't afford to pay for it any longer, it has been locked up and "late fees" have accrued at a rate higher than the monthly storage.
NOW, she has been notified that if she doesn't come up with the $2,500 by the end of March, the belongings will be sold at auction "Storage War" style and we will not be able to even know who purchased them due to privacy.
If that happens, my nephew will lose his box forever and quite frankly with all I put into it and what is inside it, I will lose a big piece of myself.
I have posted a copy of my bank statement showing that there simply is no way I can do this on my own. I am already almost $54,000 in debt trying to help things. The only real money in there is a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) that is for his education and that I can't touch, nor would I really want to. The rest is what I have left over after monthly bills.
I have only blocked out personal details.
IF I could afford to pay this fee, I would if only to rescue his box that he always talks about so proudly: "my Uncle made me a toy box with an eagle on it when I was just a baby!"
The Eagle on it in the pictures, I made and placed since it was my father's favourite symbol and matches that golden charm that my father wore and which I passed down to him inside the time capsule / secret drawer.
It too will also be lost.
Again, I know that there are so many deserving people out there and on this site, but as I said... I just can't stand to see my little buddy lose this special gift without at least asking for help.
As a side note, my plan if the money is raised is to get the access to the storage unit, get out the box and any other family memorabilia that will fit in my mother's small place and mine combined.
As for the rest, my sister still is living with family and has nowhere else to put her belongings and will no longer be allowed to be stored. She will have to sell or donate what she can. I just want that box to keep safe for him.
Any additional funds raised, should I be so fortunate, would go to my mother who is alone and on fixed income to help with the care of my nephews.
It is sad and outrageous to me that the government gives her less to care for these boys to be safe with family than they would to be with strangers. :(
Please, help my nephew get to open his secret.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
The picture is of my nephew as a baby almost six years ago. I don't want to post his recent pic for his privacy.
For his first birthday, I wanted to make him something special by hand. Something that he could keep for his whole life and pass down to his child. I am his uncle and because he doesn't have a father I knew it would be important for him as my dad also died when I was very young.
I set out to make his first birthday present. A box which I crafted and designed by hand. It took me months of work and design, because I wanted it not to be any old toy box, but a box that would be very special.
To make it special, I designed a secret compartment that would lock with secret magnetic locking pins. I'd never attempted something like this before but once I had the idea in my head I couldn't shake it.
The idea was that this box would be a toy box for when he was young, but also a time capsule from the first year of his life. When finally built, I used the secret compartment to fill it with photos, special heirlooms and coins and other family items, magazines and other things meaningful from the year he was born.
I was so proud when I was done that I posted it on a woodworking blog that you can visit with the links below. The post dates confirm my story and pictures on this site confirm my story as well.
Blog Posts
Completed Project Post with Pictures
The idea was to show him the secret compartment and unlock it for him when he is 10.
Here is the finished box:
Unfortunately, this plan may not happen now.
My sister, his mother, was an EMS who after being called to some very horrific deaths was diagnosed with PTSD. She sank into depression and lost her job and home. My nephew and his baby brother now live with my mother who unfortunately receives $2,000 less per month than what a foster family would receive to care for the same two boys. On her fixed income and with me living so far away, it's a very hard situation but we've been doing our best.
I have tried to help as much as I can, but unfortunately I am now strapped for cash as well.
When she lost her home, all her belongings, including my nephews box, were placed in storage. I asked for the box to be kept apart but she ASSURED me that it was just temporary. That was over a year ago.
Since she couldn't afford to pay for it any longer, it has been locked up and "late fees" have accrued at a rate higher than the monthly storage.
NOW, she has been notified that if she doesn't come up with the $2,500 by the end of March, the belongings will be sold at auction "Storage War" style and we will not be able to even know who purchased them due to privacy.
If that happens, my nephew will lose his box forever and quite frankly with all I put into it and what is inside it, I will lose a big piece of myself.
I have posted a copy of my bank statement showing that there simply is no way I can do this on my own. I am already almost $54,000 in debt trying to help things. The only real money in there is a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) that is for his education and that I can't touch, nor would I really want to. The rest is what I have left over after monthly bills.
I have only blocked out personal details.
IF I could afford to pay this fee, I would if only to rescue his box that he always talks about so proudly: "my Uncle made me a toy box with an eagle on it when I was just a baby!"
The Eagle on it in the pictures, I made and placed since it was my father's favourite symbol and matches that golden charm that my father wore and which I passed down to him inside the time capsule / secret drawer.
It too will also be lost.
Again, I know that there are so many deserving people out there and on this site, but as I said... I just can't stand to see my little buddy lose this special gift without at least asking for help.
As a side note, my plan if the money is raised is to get the access to the storage unit, get out the box and any other family memorabilia that will fit in my mother's small place and mine combined.
As for the rest, my sister still is living with family and has nowhere else to put her belongings and will no longer be allowed to be stored. She will have to sell or donate what she can. I just want that box to keep safe for him.
Any additional funds raised, should I be so fortunate, would go to my mother who is alone and on fixed income to help with the care of my nephews.
It is sad and outrageous to me that the government gives her less to care for these boys to be safe with family than they would to be with strangers. :(
Please, help my nephew get to open his secret.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Organizer
Joseph Maitland
Organizer
Sarnia, ON
