Early this morning, a couple of kind-hearted contractors reached out to us and offered to help with our electrical issue—for just the cost of materials. That offer alone was more generous than we ever expected, and we were completely floored by it. Out of respect for that kindness, and for everyone who had already given, I decided to turn off donations once we hit the amount needed to cover materials and a small thank-you for the men taking time away from their own paid work to help us.

I want to be completely transparent: that was the original plan. I wasn’t going to reopen this, and I wasn’t going to ask for anything else.

But after turning donations off, I started getting messages from people who had seen our story and wanted to help anyway. People said things like, “I know what it’s like to struggle,” and “I didn’t get the chance to donate before, but I still want to.” Some even asked for alternate ways to give, like Venmo.

So after thinking it through, and because I don’t take any of this lightly, I’ve decided to turn donations back on. If you’ve come to this page and still feel led to help, please know that anything we receive from this point forward will go directly toward catching up on past due bills, groceries, and keeping our family afloat through the rest of this mess.

We’re keeping clear records of what was donated before the update—what went to the electrical project—and what comes in after. Nothing is being mixed. I just want to be fully transparent about where it’s all going.

And because a few folks specifically asked: my Venmo is @Beth-Eck-2 (last 4 digits of my phone number are 6625, in case the app asks). That’s only here for the people who requested it—I’m not asking anyone to give more than they already have. You’ve all already done more than I ever could have imagined.

I know I’ve said if a hundred times, but I’ll continue saying it a million times over- from the bottom of my heart- THANK YOU. The weight that we have been carrying the last couple of months feels A LOT lighter because of each and every one of you. God bless you.

UPDATE: 7/11/2025

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to take a moment to share where things currently stand, and to thank every single one of you for showing up for us during such a hard time.

This morning, something amazing happened. A local electrical company saw our story and reached out offering to donate all of their labor and do the work at cost—only charging us for materials. Thanks to their generosity, we were able to stop the planned shutoff from National Grid that was set for Monday. The crew is tentatively scheduled to come out on July 17th, and that’s also when I’ll have a better idea of the exact cost of the materials.

While I don’t know the final number yet, I do expect it will still be upwards of $1,000, possibly more. So I will absolutely still need to use a portion of the donations to cover the material costs. That’s what they were given for—and I’m incredibly grateful for that. But because this company is doing the work so fairly, and out of nothing but kindness and generosity, I’ve made the decision that I will be paying back the amount used, little by little, over time.

Even though things are tight, I’ve decided the right thing to do is to repay those funds out of pocket, as I’m able. My plan is to start with the earliest donations and go in order—first in, first refunded—and aim to repay weekly until I’ve taken care of everyone who gave. However long it takes, I have every intention of doing it.

With that being said, I want to be completely transparent: I have turned off donations, and I plan to use only what is needed to cover the materials, plus a small thank-you to the company for donating their time and stepping away from paid work to help us.

After that, I intend to refund the remaining donations.

That said, a handful of people who donated have messaged me privately, unprompted, to say they do NOT want a refund. They’ve told me to use what’s left toward groceries, bills, or whatever we need to make it through. And the truth is—we’re still in crisis.

We’ve been struggling silently for months and would’ve continued to do so had we not received a 10-day shutoff notice from National Grid.

This wasn’t just about keeping the lights on. Clayton is on IV antibiotics that must be refrigerated. He’s diabetic and insulin-dependent. Our oldest son, Nathan, has asthma, and while he can sometimes go a few weeks without an episode, the summer heat and activity can trigger wheezing fits that require nebulizer and albuterol treatments.

So no—this wasn’t just about keeping us comfortable. If it was just about comfort, I would’ve figured it out quietly. Honestly, this entire thing has been humbling and uncomfortable. I never imagined coming on Facebook or GoFundMe to ask for help with something like an electrical panel. That’s not anyone else’s responsibility—and I see that. I acknowledge that.

But when it becomes about your family’s health and safety, you set your pride aside.

What began in mid-May as a 4–6 week treatment plan has now stretched into mid-July, and Clayton was just told he’ll need at least two more weeks of IV antibiotics—with no end date for his return to work.

We applied for emergency SNAP weeks ago. We were told we’d have an answer within five days. It’s been weeks, and we’ve received nothing. So even the bare minimum assistance meant to help families like ours isn’t reaching us yet.

We are utilizing what we can, including the school’s weekday breakfast and lunch program for our kids—and we’re so grateful those resources exist. But please hear me when I say: when we talk about “families in need,” that is us. One income. Three kids. Medical crises. No outside assistance. And trying to survive.

With all of this said, I want to prioritize refunds for anyone who donated even when they really couldn’t afford to—but felt compelled to give because our story resonated with them. If that’s you, please message me privately. I’ll make sure your refund is processed first. You can message me on Facebook—everything will remain confidential.

If you are someone who donated and do NOT want a refund, please let me know—same as above. Know that your generosity means more to me than I will ever be able to put into words.

If I don’t hear from you, I’ll take that as your okay to proceed with refunding your donation after we cover the panel materials and a small thank-you to the company donating their labor.

Even if it takes me months to begin that process, please know I have every intention. I have each and every name saved, and I will make sure I take care of everybody.

Thank you again for believing in us and for helping us hold everything together. You’ve made an impossible situation feel a little more survivable.

With love,

Beth

UPDATE: 7/10/2025: We did receive a quote from another electrician for over a thousand dollars less so i updated the goal amount to reflect the new quote. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated so far—your kindness and generosity mean the world to us. Every single share, donation, and encouraging word has helped carry us through a really overwhelming time. Thank you for showing up for our family in such a big way. We truly couldn’t do this without you.

I just want to say upfront—I know it’s not anyone else’s responsibility to pay for repairs or upgrades to my home. And in any other situation, I never would have asked.

If this were something we had time to plan for—six months, even three months—no one would’ve ever known about it. I would’ve found a way to figure it out quietly, on my own. But this came out of nowhere, with a 10-day safety notice from National Grid, and I’ve truly exhausted every possible option I can think of.

I’ve called DSS, ACCORD, 211, Sheen Housing, and Catholic Charities. I’ve reached out to multiple churches, left messages, contacted electricians for more quotes, and even checked with my homeowner’s insurance—who unfortunately won’t cover any of it.

I’m not proud to be here. This is incredibly difficult and honestly humiliating . But we’re running out of time, and I’m out of options. And as much as it pains me to ask for help, I’m doing it now for the sake of my kids and my husband’s safety while he’s still recovering.

I’m Beth Eck—a full-time working mom of three young boys, and right now I’m also the sole caregiver for my husband, Clayton, who has been seriously ill for months. Clayton has been hospitalized three separate times this year with life-threatening complications, including a severe MRSA infection, pneumonia,lung abscess, pericardial effusion, fluid overload, anemia, and kidney issues. He’s still not recovered—he’s currently on long-term IV antibiotics through a PICC line, and I’ve been taking him to multiple weekly appointments while working and trying to hold our household together. He hasn’t been able to work in months. We’re still fighting to get approved for basic things like food stamps and disability.

And now—while we’re already stretched to our breaking point—we received a 10-day safety notice from National Grid due to a damaged electrical cable that could result in our power being shut off. The cable is frayed in two spots, including where it enters the house. I had several electricians come out, and they all said the same thing: they won’t just replace the cable because of the liability with our old electrical panel. Every electrician said the panel is a fire hazard and must be brought up to code if the cable is touched. This is the lowest quote I was able to get for the work. I’ve called DSS, ACCORD, Sheen Housing, 211—every local program that’s supposed to help with emergency repairs—and no one has funding available. All of them said the same thing: they can help with electric bills if you have a disconnect notice, but not emergency electrical upgrades for safety.

I’ve never liked asking for help. But we’re out of options, and I’m doing everything I can to protect my family. If you’re able to donate, share, or just send love—thank you. Every single bit helps us keep the lights on, the fridge running, and our kids safe while Clayton continues to recover at home. I’ll post the National Grid notice, the electrician’s quote, and updates along the way. Thank you for being here. Truly.