Bring Johnaton Home to California
Hi, my name is Nicole Taylor and I am fundraising to help my family support Johnaton George after losing his mom at age 16. Johnaton has been a part of our family for several years now. He grew up with his single mom in Vallejo down the street from my dad and stepmom, Tom and Vicki Ovens. His mom worked long hours supporting three kids, one of her own and two, including John, who she had taken in after their biological mom chose not to take care of them. Johnaton was the youngest and, at age 6, adopted Tom and Vicki as his honorary grandparents. My sister and brother-in-law, Britt and Lex Sinclair, have two boys of similar age and he quickly became a part of their family, living at their home for extended periods of time. Britt and Tom have played a huge role in Johnaton’s development, getting him enrolled in a good charter school, interfacing with his teachers, and often paying for expenses his mother could not afford.
In 2019 Johnaton and his mom moved to Arkansas to live in a more affordable community. Her health suffered and they lived on public assistance and social security. The pandemic soon hit and Johnaton struggled to stay engaged with online learning. He has been working at McDonalds and is no longer enrolled in school. Like many kids with limited support and finances, he is in danger of falling through the cracks. Tragically, in July his mother died after COVID-induced pneumonia exhausted her already fragile body. Johnaton is currently still living in their rental house with his young adult sister and her 3 year old child. He has no family able to take him in.
We are working to bring him back to Vallejo. Britt is filing for guardianship to help him navigate his future. He is applying to attend a Job Corps program where he will get a GED and study auto repair. We are facing many expenses including several thousand dollars in legal fees to obtain guardianship, plus relocation costs and rent and other living expenses until he can legally travel to live here with Britt. He desperately needs emotional support to deal with the devastating loss of his mother, and care and direction to face his future at an incredibly important crossroads in his life. We very much appreciate any contribution you can spare to help this great kid heal and get his future on track. Thank you!!
