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Aide for the Dowd Family: Thank Him For His Service

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An average of 21 soldiers and former soldiers commit suicide every single day. In their wake, friends and families are left with enduring grief as well as emotional and financial struggle. My name is Kristen Sojourner and I am requesting emergency financial support for the family of Gary Dowd. Gary served in the Army Infantry for 8 years and was a Purple Heart recipient. In 2003, Gary bravely served during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he lost his left arm due to an RPG explosion, after which he spent 13 months recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center. For two decades since, Gary continued to battle Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). On August 4, the pain and struggle became too much to bear. Gary committed suicide, leaving his wife Jaime and daughters, Jadilyn and Rozalyn, to pick up the pieces. Because of the nature of his death and the pending investigation, Gary’s family has been left without financial resources. Jaime has been able to pay her rent and expenses for September, but has no other means of support. Gary’s earning represented most of their monthly income. Veteran’s benefits, life insurance policies, everything is pending investigation, which could take six months or more. Jaime is desperate. Her father died two weeks before Gary and she has nowhere to turn. She is applying for assistance, but everything takes time. Jaime and her daughters need financial support to get them through these months, a leg up to help until they can sort this mess and get the help they need from the government and military that Gary sacrificed himself to serve. They shouldn’t have to deal with eviction on top of their loss. If you’ve ever said “thank you for your service,” this is one way to truly show your support.

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    Organizer and beneficiary

    Kristen Sojourner
    Organizer
    Lexington, SC
    Jaime Dowd
    Beneficiary

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