My family and I have been facing one challenge after another, and I’m reaching out because we truly need help. On Easter Sunday, we nearly totaled our car after hitting a black bear at 75 mph. That terrifying moment was just the beginning of a series of hardships. Our son Alphonse was in the hospital for the last three months due to his mental health struggles, and he is the reason we had a shift in custody. It simply wasn’t safe after he attacked Bella and the girls. Because of this, we had to make an immediate shift to obtain full custody of our daughter Aria, which ended the child support we relied on. I had to take time off work to support the family during this crisis, and my wife, Bella, has been out of work, caring for our 8-month-old, Olive.

We plan to move in together at the end of August, moving from Flushing, Queens to Selinsgrove, PA, and I will have to start over finding work. For now, I’ve been traveling back and forth between both places. The cost of travel, along with car repairs, living expenses, and groceries, has become overwhelming. Every day feels like a balancing act, and I’m struggling to keep up with rent, bills, and the basic needs of my family.

I’m really not one to ever ask for help, but the truth is I cannot do this alone. While I hate to ask, I am desperately in need of support. I keep trying to take care of everyone’s needs, but I’m falling short. Anything you can give—no matter how small—will help us get through this difficult time. I simply cannot do this by myself, but I am until we find child care and my wife is able to start working. Thank you for reading our story and for any support you can offer.