(to give without a fee: Venmo @Linda-Capone-Newton or Zelle to Linda at two zero seven four zero nine three eight four eight)

Julio & his partner are used to being the ones helping others. It's not easy for them to ask for help for themselves. They believe everyone is deserving of having what they need & don't want to take away from anyone in more dire circumstances. This fundraising is aimed at people out there who are fortunate enough to have extra & may not have been aware of the financial consequences of what Julio & his family have been going through.

"[Julio's] been trying to make mole hills out of mountains, and building base camp at the bottom of a really big deal." -Ani DiFranco, Independence Day

Did Julio ever tell you that...

...his physical health hasn't been the same since the pandemic & he hasn't been able to work for almost 2 years.

...he had to have quadruple bypass surgery in July 2023, about a week after his 49th birthday. After years of his heart symptoms being dismissed, one blessed cardiac fellow recommended an accurate diagnostic test & 3 days later Julio was in surgery. His recovery was made harder by being removed too soon from the CTICU while not adequately medicated & with 14 out of 10 pain.

...he lost wages & experienced extreme mental distress from being denied reasonable accommodations twice in 3 years by his employer. He was mocked by a HR employee, told by a special ed program director that disability accommodations are for students not workers, referred to a legal consultant paid for by the employer to document that, & then terminated in June 2024 with a form letter that did not even thank him for his service.

All of the above has hurt Julio's ability to get what he needs for himself and his family. Any funds raised will be used to remedy that as follows:

~$50 food his doctors recommend that isn't available at food pantries

~$50 saline solution, vitamin D, & fish oil supplements his doctors recommend but aren't covered by MaineCare (even with a prior auth)

~$150 gas to give his children rides & go to the grocery store

~$400 basic repairs to front door & bathroom floor that landlord refuses

~$750 heating oil (his family already applied for heating assistance, the funds are delayed by a Maine Housing mistake)

~$1,000 lawyer consult for his disability appeal

~$1,000 inspection sticker & car repair required to keep 2012 minivan going

~$1,600 two months rent (his family already applied to the eviction prevention program, they are about #1150 on the list)

Thank you to all who spread the word and/or give. Your effort is appreciated. All donations will go directly to the grandmother of Julio's children, who will use the funds in accordance with DHHS rules to pay urgent bills as a 3rd party.

Finally, Julio & his family want to express their gratitude to every person who has been kind & fair to them over the past 4 years. You have made their situation more bearable. Some more Ani DiFranco wisdom:

"God's work isn't done by God, it's done by people."