Help Disabled Native Father Keep Home Warm

63 donors

$5,450 raised of $5.4K

‌

Help Disabled Native Father Keep Home Warm

Brook Thompson is organizing this fundraiser.

Hello,

I am the daughter of Willie Thompson who is a Yurok tribal member and Karuk. This summer he experienced two life-threatening hospital visits. In September after getting out of critical care after being flown down to Santa Rosa for emergency care because of excessive bleeding he had a life-changing stroke. The stroke drastically limited his strength and motion.

Currently, Willie is 59 years old. One year away from being elder status in his tribe. His house is heated using a wood stove. Because of the stroke, he is no longer able to keep the fire going consistently, while his wife is at work or strong enough to chop kindling and wood needed to keep the fire going. Previously he also feel and burnt himself on the stove as well. I am currently living away from home, while I pursue an engineering degree at Stanford and cannot be there to help consistently either.

We are asking for any donation to help us reach the approximately $5,000 needed to buy a ductless ventilation system heating. Currently, we have three quotes from installation companies with $5,000 being the midpoint. If any money is made above this it will go towards gas and food money for my father. We are also requesting slightly more than $5,000 to cover the percent GoFundMe takes.

He cannot work anymore, as he was previously a carpenter/ construction worker, and even more simple jobs such as Janitorial or store work are too much for him at the moment. We have applied to disability/ social security but the application has not been approved yet. We have considered several other heating options but decided this would be the most reasonable one. That way the wood stove can still be used when the power goes out in winters and summers.

Thank you for any support you are able to provide! Worrying about my dad less will help me focus on my studies as well so I can graduate and get a good job to help even more.

Thank you,

Brook Thompson