A Story to Warm Your Frosty Lil' East Nash Soul!
Donation protected
East Nashville, meet JJ, the coolest East Nashville neighbor you never knew you had!
The Backstory-
Back in January, a stellar group of neighborhood women found that our neighbor in the Highland Heights neighborhood of East Nashville, JJ, had become homeless, experienced financial exploitation, and medical neglect. When we found him, he had untreated diabetes, and was sitting outdoors shivering in the rain. Over the past month, we've built a relationship with JJ as he went to the hospital, transitioned to short term physical rehab, and ultimately, will move to an assisted living facility. He's taught us a whole lot about our preconceived notions about individuals who experience homelessness, and the devastating impacts when friends and family fall away.
Turns out, JJ is super cool; back in the 90s, he owned a business transporting bodies for funeral homes. His wife passed away from cancer about 10 years ago, and with that, he lost his connections to family. Since that time, JJ has bounced around in different precarious housing situations, and ultimately ended up homeless when he couldn't afford rent in our city on the rise. His health deteriorated over the years, to where he needs assistance with many daily tasks. Despite all this tragedy, JJ has managed to stay clear, sober, positive, and focused on a bright future!
We're calling on you, our dear East Nash friends, to help JJ move from homelessness to health!
How you can help!
JJ is assigned through his insurance to move from short term physical rehab to assisted living, but it will take approximately 45 days from today (2/7) for insurance to approve his transfer. While we wait, JJ's only options are moving to the Mission or pre-paying for his care at an assisted living facility. We need to raise $6,600, which is a lot (we know!), but this will allow him to move swiftly from his current location to his permanent assisted living home until insurance can take over. Can you help the East Nashville neighbor you never knew you had? If so, please donate here! Oh, and feel free to join us for East Nashville lunch on Sundays. The photo of all of us above is JJ's very first trip to El Fuego. There may or may not have been a margarita involved.
A note on transparency in giving
Any funds we raise will go directly to the facility where JJ currently resides, and to cover any day to day living expenses like toiletries, washcloths, linens, etc. that he needs to move in. We with withdraw the money on a weekly basis and write a check directly to the assisted living facility. At this time, all donations are going directly to my personal checking account. This week, I am setting up a separate bank account so we can share bank statements and ledgers with this group; we want to demonstrate responsible stewardship of your donations! If you would like to see account ledgers at any point, please contact me directly at [email redacted].
One time, we went to Wal-Mart, and JJ found out that those dang scooters don't go very fast.
This is JJ and a neighbor friend on the transition from hospital to short term rehab.
The Backstory-
Back in January, a stellar group of neighborhood women found that our neighbor in the Highland Heights neighborhood of East Nashville, JJ, had become homeless, experienced financial exploitation, and medical neglect. When we found him, he had untreated diabetes, and was sitting outdoors shivering in the rain. Over the past month, we've built a relationship with JJ as he went to the hospital, transitioned to short term physical rehab, and ultimately, will move to an assisted living facility. He's taught us a whole lot about our preconceived notions about individuals who experience homelessness, and the devastating impacts when friends and family fall away.
Turns out, JJ is super cool; back in the 90s, he owned a business transporting bodies for funeral homes. His wife passed away from cancer about 10 years ago, and with that, he lost his connections to family. Since that time, JJ has bounced around in different precarious housing situations, and ultimately ended up homeless when he couldn't afford rent in our city on the rise. His health deteriorated over the years, to where he needs assistance with many daily tasks. Despite all this tragedy, JJ has managed to stay clear, sober, positive, and focused on a bright future!
We're calling on you, our dear East Nash friends, to help JJ move from homelessness to health!
How you can help!
JJ is assigned through his insurance to move from short term physical rehab to assisted living, but it will take approximately 45 days from today (2/7) for insurance to approve his transfer. While we wait, JJ's only options are moving to the Mission or pre-paying for his care at an assisted living facility. We need to raise $6,600, which is a lot (we know!), but this will allow him to move swiftly from his current location to his permanent assisted living home until insurance can take over. Can you help the East Nashville neighbor you never knew you had? If so, please donate here! Oh, and feel free to join us for East Nashville lunch on Sundays. The photo of all of us above is JJ's very first trip to El Fuego. There may or may not have been a margarita involved.
A note on transparency in giving
Any funds we raise will go directly to the facility where JJ currently resides, and to cover any day to day living expenses like toiletries, washcloths, linens, etc. that he needs to move in. We with withdraw the money on a weekly basis and write a check directly to the assisted living facility. At this time, all donations are going directly to my personal checking account. This week, I am setting up a separate bank account so we can share bank statements and ledgers with this group; we want to demonstrate responsible stewardship of your donations! If you would like to see account ledgers at any point, please contact me directly at [email redacted].
One time, we went to Wal-Mart, and JJ found out that those dang scooters don't go very fast.
This is JJ and a neighbor friend on the transition from hospital to short term rehab.
Fundraising team: Team JJ (3)
Stacia West
Organizer
Nashville, TN
Jessica Burrell Wilkens
Team member
Audrey Kayfes
Team member
