Ray Dean - Paying it Forward
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THE HARDSHIPS
To those of you who have not had the opportunity to meet Ray Dean, he is a 77 year old army veteran who recently became homeless. He also happens to be one of my good friends. It is a shame to introduce such a wonderful person by the hardship he has found himself in.
He spent the last 20 years in an apartment, trading handyman services for rent. With no warning, he was kicked out of his home this summer during the COVID pandemic to make room for higher paying tenants. Being the man he is, Ray did not fight this, packed his things and quietly began living in his van where he has remained since.
After suffering a heart attack in 2018, Ray was diagnosed with AFIB, an irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke and other complications. Sadly, for the last 6 months, Ray stopped taking his medication as he could no longer afford it, causing his condition to deteriorate.
All these issues came to a head on September 17th, when Ray was involved in a car accident and totaled his vehicle - losing not only his work transportation, but his home as well. It is suspected that Ray lost consciousness while driving, causing him to swerve head-on into oncoming traffic and striking another vehicle. Thankfully airbags in both vehicles prevented critical damage to either party. Ray did, however, suffer a brain hemorrhage alongside acute decompensation (heart failure) and hypoxia (lack of oxygen supply in the body).
THE ASSISTANCE NEEDED
We are reaching out to our community and asking for help. All funds raised for the campaign will be used to secure Ray:
- Affordable Housing: We are currently applying Ray for housing through the VA, but this is not an immediate process. All housing costs must be fronted for several months until his application process is finalized and approved.
- Reliable Vehicle: Making a living off handy-man services, Ray relies on a truck or van to get him to and from any jobs he picks up.
- Medication Costs: Ray will need to take the medications prescribed to him. Doctors are confident with proper medication, Ray can potentially make a full recovery.
- Court Costs associated with his car accident.
Ray has a servants heart, always going out of his way to help others - seeking no personal gain. He’s the kind of guy who gives all he has. There was the time at McDonald’s when he stood behind a family celebrating the high school graduation of their son. He observed them scraping money together to buy their son anything he wanted on the menu. Not a man of many means himself, Ray put down his card, congratulated the young man on his achievement and bought the entire family their celebratory meal. Or when the woman beside him at the gas pump didn’t have the money to pay for her gas. When Ray gave her $20, she asked if she could repay him. His only ask was for her to simply, “pay it forward.”
As a man who has dedicated his entire life to helping and encouraging friends and strangers alike, we ask for your help. While it's a tough time for so many out there, today, we ask for you to “pay it forward” as we help Ray get back on his feet.
We appreciate any help spreading the word on this campaign.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
To those of you who have not had the opportunity to meet Ray Dean, he is a 77 year old army veteran who recently became homeless. He also happens to be one of my good friends. It is a shame to introduce such a wonderful person by the hardship he has found himself in.
He spent the last 20 years in an apartment, trading handyman services for rent. With no warning, he was kicked out of his home this summer during the COVID pandemic to make room for higher paying tenants. Being the man he is, Ray did not fight this, packed his things and quietly began living in his van where he has remained since.
After suffering a heart attack in 2018, Ray was diagnosed with AFIB, an irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke and other complications. Sadly, for the last 6 months, Ray stopped taking his medication as he could no longer afford it, causing his condition to deteriorate.
All these issues came to a head on September 17th, when Ray was involved in a car accident and totaled his vehicle - losing not only his work transportation, but his home as well. It is suspected that Ray lost consciousness while driving, causing him to swerve head-on into oncoming traffic and striking another vehicle. Thankfully airbags in both vehicles prevented critical damage to either party. Ray did, however, suffer a brain hemorrhage alongside acute decompensation (heart failure) and hypoxia (lack of oxygen supply in the body).
THE ASSISTANCE NEEDED
We are reaching out to our community and asking for help. All funds raised for the campaign will be used to secure Ray:
- Affordable Housing: We are currently applying Ray for housing through the VA, but this is not an immediate process. All housing costs must be fronted for several months until his application process is finalized and approved.
- Reliable Vehicle: Making a living off handy-man services, Ray relies on a truck or van to get him to and from any jobs he picks up.
- Medication Costs: Ray will need to take the medications prescribed to him. Doctors are confident with proper medication, Ray can potentially make a full recovery.
- Court Costs associated with his car accident.
Ray has a servants heart, always going out of his way to help others - seeking no personal gain. He’s the kind of guy who gives all he has. There was the time at McDonald’s when he stood behind a family celebrating the high school graduation of their son. He observed them scraping money together to buy their son anything he wanted on the menu. Not a man of many means himself, Ray put down his card, congratulated the young man on his achievement and bought the entire family their celebratory meal. Or when the woman beside him at the gas pump didn’t have the money to pay for her gas. When Ray gave her $20, she asked if she could repay him. His only ask was for her to simply, “pay it forward.”
As a man who has dedicated his entire life to helping and encouraging friends and strangers alike, we ask for your help. While it's a tough time for so many out there, today, we ask for you to “pay it forward” as we help Ray get back on his feet.
We appreciate any help spreading the word on this campaign.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
Organizer
Ken Futch
Organizer
Tucker, GA