Help Samuel Mermella Get a Fighting Chance

Samuel Mermella’s life has been a battle since he was a young child. From the age of 6, he was forced to grow up too fast, taking care of his addicted father while surviving on the streets. Samuel was introduced to drugs and gangs early on, learning to steal just to get by. By the time he came into our care at age 12, his heart was already hardened, but we saw something in him—a good heart, full of potential.

Samuel struggled, but over the years, he made progress. He dedicated himself to turning his life around, helping those in need, and even serving with me at events like Cowboys for Heroes. He gave his life to Christ under our roof. Samuel is a young man who has always wanted to do good, even when life didn’t give him a chance.

In 2022, after his father was released from prison, Samuel moved to Odessa to reconnect with him. Sadly, the pull of his past was too strong, and he fell back into old habits—drugs, stealing, and ultimately living on the streets again. His father was heartbroken, and Samuel was left lost in a cycle he couldn’t break.

Now, at 18, Samuel is in Ector County Jail, caught in a system that seems determined to crush him. He’s been calling me daily, and through our conversations, I’ve seen his heart shift back toward God and away from the darkness. But without the right legal help, his future is bleak. Samuel’s court-appointed attorney isn’t offering him much hope, and without outside support, his chances of turning his life around are slim.

I’ve found a criminal attorney who believes in Samuel and wants to fight for him, but I need your help to make it happen. Samuel is at a crossroads—this is his last chance to get the help he desperately needs: therapy, rehabilitation, and a chance to build a future. I’ve already given all I can to the children we’ve fostered, and with three kids entering college, my resources are stretched thin.

Please help me give Samuel the fighting chance he deserves. With your support, we can offer him hope, the guidance of a loving community, and the legal defense that can turn his life around.

Thank you for taking the time to read his story, and for considering how you can make a difference. Samuel wants to change, and with your help, he just might.