On Wednesday night (January 16) I received a private message on Twitter from a young man in Kentucky. He and his younger brother were trapped in an abusive home. What little money they had was being held hostage by their father. They weren't allowed to get drivers licenses, jobs, go to school, go to church, or move out. Their home had no AC, no hot water, no working oven, and no privacy. To make matters worse, their house was so far out in the country, they couldn't even call a taxi, let alone pay for one. It was an odd chance they were recently allowed a cell phone, which gave them internet, and that's how they found me.

After discussing options and researching shelters in their area, the oldest brother, Chris, was brave and called the police. An officer investigated the situation and agreed that Chris and Ben needed to leave. They are now safe in a shelter, but they have next to nothing. They squeezed as many clothes and necessities as they could into two backpacks and two small tote bags. Ben brought a few school books, because he's been teaching himself high school.

These are bright, friendly, and ambitious young men who dream of getting jobs and starting new lives. They could really use a helping hand. I'm hoping to raise funds to get them on their feet. 

A few things we plan to invest donations toward: 

- Their cell phone service runs out on January 31, 2019. They need phones to communicate with local assistance and access the internet. We want to extend their service on a cost-effective basic plan.

- Two large duffle bags to replace current bags which are small and don't zip up.

- Luggage locks so their belongings are secure at the shelter.

- Transportation (such as bus passes) so they can get to job interviews, go to work, attend church, etc..

More needs will doubtless arise, but these are our current focuses. Thank you so much for you consideration and generous support. Every little bit helps, even if it's just a dollar. Thank you!