Help this Romeo & Juliet Couple

I met Gail and Greg by necessity. I needed help. I found Gail on a local Metuchen, NJ Facebook page. She was trying to bring money into her home. I learned Gail had been let go from her job ten months prior. Unemployment insurance had run out four months prior.

I am retired, arthritic and, frankly, obese. I needed help with chores and clean up. Gail was more than happy and able to help me. We got to know each other. She is a hard, enthusiastic worker.

Gail and Greg are together six years, married about five. Greg is working. We both live in a corner of the USA (in Metuchen, NJ) that is expensive, especially for housing and groceries. One income covers about half their expenses. Gail and Greg are a pink and blue collar, respectively. Gail has been an administrative assistant, Greg works in glass replacement. Until Gail’s unemployment, they were alright financially.

While they had one less income, their landlord of six years decided to raze the property they lived in. Gail and Greg, through no fault of their own, had to leave their home and move elsewhere. They found a place, moved in, and immediately discovered the new landlord had a very old problem: rodents and raccoons. Mice were crawling inside the walls. They vacated immediately, and moved in with what was – past tense - a friend. At one point, in early January of 2023, Gail accepted a job offer in Metuchen. It was ideal. There was one problem: she did not have a permanent address. For some employers, this is a necessity, especially concerning contracts with various entities. She lost this good job. Gail and Greg were back to square one financially and as it turns out, a third housing problem arose.

I need to stop here and say that Gail and Greg are both attractive, warm people in their late thirties, early forties. Gail has a sparkling vivacious personality. She lights up a room she is industrious and open minded. Greg is more reserved, quiet. He is an observer, bordering on a philosopher.

This male “friend” they lived with, and to whom they paid rent, utilities and other expenses, was causing problems for Gail and Greg because Gail is a gem. This man was Greg’s supposed friend, and simply stated, he was jealous of Gail and Greg. He tried to break up their marriage.

The couple left after a little over a month, and are now truly homeless. They have reached out to our county social services, several other charitable organizations. They all have limited resources and even more housing. Section 8 (welfare) housing has a three year waiting list in our state. It is early Spring in NJ, and the temperature dips into the thirties at night. Shelters are full.

I help when and where I can, but they need more. This is where you, the reader, come in. Their situation is dire. Gail is helping me with my matters, such as cleaning my car, helping me with moving. She is a dynamo. She is trying to start a side business in organizing and cleaning. It takes time to build. Meanwhile, she sends out resumes. Gail and Greg use food banks, are getting government assistance with their phone bills, medical bills, medical insurance and gas for their car. They need more than I can give.

They are gaunt. In the last six months, they have both lost at least twenty pounds. This is a telltale sign of the stress and lack of good food. They were both slim to start. In our abundance, these two could use my extra pounds. Food, though available, is inadequate at food banks. They are law abiding, unremarkable and are a very devoted, secure couple.

They need money for car payments, car insurance (very high in NJ), taxes, grooming, laundry, soap, clothing, car repairs, veterinarian bills, cat litter, cat food, and maybe a movie every once in a while. Snacks would help too. A sense of long lost peace and security would help.

This is a Romeo and Juliet type couple. Their families both disowned them when they married. Recently, a family member reached out to me. They hadn’t spoken to Gail and Greg in six years. It was an act of curiosity rather than of concern. No help has come forward, to date.

I have grown to love Gail and Greg. I guess it shows. I admire their love for each other, their team efforts, their tenacity in spite of their mountainous problems. I am deeply impressed with Gail’s resourcefulness and boundless energy. I see my late husband and myself in these two. I’m helping, as I said. They could use much more than I can give them. Won’t you help me help them?