A Smile for a Smile: Help Support Demetrius AKA Meat

Hello! My name is Nina Ludy, and I'm a Coast Guard spouse. Whenever my husband, Ryan, has duty on the weekends, my son, Blake, and I like to meet up with him at the galley (on base dining facility). It’s a special place for us, and it’s also where we met Demetrius, the amazing guy behind the counter who serves our Coast Guard family with such care.

Demetrius, or "Meat" as we call him, is always the highlight of our day. No matter what, he greets everyone with a smile, and he goes out of his way to make sure that Blake, our son, especially, gets what he needs — and more! Recently, we were at the galley and Meat greeted us with his usual infectious smile, but there was something different. He told us how seeing Blake had really made his day, especially when he needed it most. It was then that I could sense something was off, and I felt this deep need to check in on him.

As we were leaving the galley, I spotted him in his car, and I knocked on his window to see if he was okay. He admitted he wasn’t, but insisted he would be fine. When I asked how I could help, he opened up about his struggles. It turns out that he has been working tirelessly at two jobs, all day and all night, to make ends meet. He’s trying to catch up on bills, and I later learned that he was behind on rent.

The thing about Meat is that he’s always the happiest, most selfless person. He’s the kind of person who makes sure everyone else is okay, even when he’s hurting. He brightens so many lives, and I really wanted to give back to him in the same way he has given to us.

That’s why I’ve created this GoFundMe—to help him get caught up on his rent and give him the peace of mind he so deserves. If you've ever been greeted by his smile, had a laugh with him, or been touched by his kindness, any donation, big or small, will make a huge difference in his life. And if you're not able to donate, please keep Meat and his family in your prayers—they need it more than they know.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and for helping me give back to someone who truly deserves it.

Love,

Nina