My name is Julio Leal, I’m 33 years old, and I’m a single father raising two amazing kids, ages 9 and 8.

My life has been dedicated to public service, over 11 years in the Army (3 on active duty and 8 in the Reserves, now serving in a Drill Sergeant unit as a candidate) and more than 3.5 years with the Nebraska Department of Corrections.

I started as a Corporal focused on the safety and security of staff and inmates, and now I work as a Behavioral Health Caseworker, helping people manage serious mental health needs. I’ve spent my adult life serving others, but right now, I need to ask for help myself.

On September 8th, my car was vandalized, someone smashed my driver’s side mirror.

Just two days later, on September 10th, while taking it to a body shop after work, I was hit from behind. The impact shoved me into the car in front of me, then across the median into oncoming traffic.

The driver sped off, it was a hit-and-run and despite the police report, they still haven’t been found. My car was declared a total loss, with heavy damage to both the rear and undercarriage.

The hardest part? I had just finished paying it off. Insurance isn’t covering nearly enough to replace it.

I relied on that car every day, for school drop-offs, doctor visits, groceries, and keeping life stable for my kids. Their mother lives in another state and isn’t in the picture, and I don’t have family nearby. It’s just me holding everything together.

My kids have already been through so much. Before I gained custody, they were medically and educationally neglected.

They never went to the doctor or dentist. My son only attended school for about two months because his mother didn’t feel like taking him, which set him back and left him needing extra support.

My daughter developed hip dysplasia, but her mother never took her to a doctor. By the time I was able to step in, she needed treatment and therapy to help her recover.

Today, they’re finally getting the care they deserve and I want to keep them on that path.

I’m asking for help to raise $18,000. With the way car prices are now, that’s what it will take to get a safe, reliable family vehicle.

Any extra will go toward paying down the debt left from my divorce and custody battle, which pushed much of my financial burden into collections and hit my credit hard.

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How Your Support Will Help Us

Every donation will directly help me give my kids the stability they deserve:

• Safe, reliable car – to get them to school, doctors, and daily needs without fear of breaking down.

• Peace of mind – knowing I can get to work and keep providing for my family.

• Debt relief – paying down collections debt from my divorce and custody battle, so I can rebuild credit.

• A better life for my kids – helping them stay in school, receive proper medical care, and grow up in a stable, loving home.

Any donation, no matter the size, will make a difference. Your support isn’t just replacing a car, it’s helping me continue being the dad my kids need and deserve.

Even if you can’t donate, simply sharing this page means the world to me and my kids. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping us move forward.

— Julio