We need your help.

Our dad - who some of you may know as Duck or Charles - has been a blessing to so many over the years. Whether it be through a delicious meal, planning Father’s Day events, giving financial loans, leaning into mentorship, or providing a listening ear and sound advice. I’ve written about this publicly on multiple occasions over the years.

Today, he is in serious need of our help. Duck currently has four abscesses in his mouth from an infection caused by rotting teeth - one symptom of his battle with diabetes. Once the swelling is reduced from the antibiotics (docs say about a week), he must have all of his teeth immediately extracted to keep the infection from continuing to enter his body --left untreated, the infection can lead to a host of other life-threatening complications.

The cost to extract all of his teeth is around $8,000. A full set of dentures will cost an additional $4,000. A total of approximately $12,000 out-of-pocket costs. Unfortunately, Duck does not have dental insurance and has not yet found his financial footing since leaving Chicago to avoid the brutal arthritis-triggering winters.

Duck does not know that we are creating this fundraising effort on his behalf. In transparency, yesterday he called his children and said “I have an emergency. I need help.” So, here we are. As his community. Helping big. If able, we are asking that you please contribute. Everything counts.

We aim to bless Duck with the funds to have the surgery and with the full, dignity-restoring smile that he deserves. Most of all, we want to show him how much he is loved by his family, friends, and extended community of people he may never even meet.

Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity. We love you. Ubuntu.