Help us keeping our home and getting on our feed.

Food brings people together on many different levels. It's nourishment for soul and body; it's truly love!

Hi! My name is Martina and I am creating this fundraiser for my husband Charles, our Basset Hound Tyrion and myself. Charles and I have been married for 26 years. We made it through many up and downs in life but never gave up hope and a fight. We have been talking about a food truck for almost as long but our dreams never came to bear fruit. A breakfast truck to serve biscuits and gravy, waffles and cinnamon rolls. Nothing big, just to be independent and bring good food to people at an affordable price.

In the year 2010 I noticed a change in my left leg. It had always given me trouble because I had dislocated and fractured my knee twice. My knee eventually collapsed and I was treated for arthritis. Then my foot started to turn to the point where I walked on my ankle and only could wear boots. Yet I continued working. The pain got eventually so bad that I went in for a knee replacement. My surgeon looked at me and immediately consulted another surgeon, because of the angle my food was in. It took him one look and the right questions about other symptoms to diagnose me with Charcot Marie Tooth disease. Yup, I never heard of it either. it's a genetic condition that affects the nerves in legs, feet, arms and hands. Loss of muscles, high foot arches, decreased ability to run and walk, frequent tripping and falling, neuropathy, hand contractures, pins and needles, a burning sensation, slow reflexes, tremors, difficulties breathing, swallowing and speaking. I experiment all this symptoms over the years and had my ankles and feed fused as well as a total knee replacement. It made me bionic. Suddenly the insurance stopped paying for all medical treatments, even the cortisone shots and PT that gives me relief. My gait affected my sciatic nerve as well. Over the years Charles started taking care of me, the household and remained employed. We still kept talking of owning a food truck to be independent.

2020 Covid hit. Charles remained employed as essential worker. He worked 10-12 hour shifts 6-7 days a week as his coworkers didn't show up for work. Always exposed to the virus. We lived in Tacoma and he worked in Seattle, WA. His pay was not increased, neither was there any appreciation. He also helped taking pet food to the elderly, homeless and poor when the State locked down.

The cold and damp weather made my life so miserable, that we decided, when the house we rented went up for sale, to move to Florida. Heat decreases my pain considerably. We looked into small places and found one in a 55+ community. Perfect to live. Research showed, here are no food trucks in the area. Perfect to open up one. When we arrived, we were greeted nicely. But we didn't have any power nor water, strangely. A call to the power company revealed that they required to rewire the house before they turn power back on. And the manager of the community had turned water off because someone had cut the waterline inside the kitchen, that lead to the icemaker in the fridge. The fridge was gone as well. It did cause some damage. The toilet also was damaged. We don't know who had come into the house prior to our arrival and why. But it happened and we had to deal with it. The repairs took all of our savings that was meant for a down payment on a food truck, $ 30,000.00. We still need to modify the house to make it handicapped friendly, the bathroom, floors, handicapped ramp, you name it. We don't have a stove or any furniture but a bed. I still need a special chair to sit in, new shoes my deformed feet will fit in. We need a fridge with a freezer. Right now we make due with a mini fridge. Central a/c also needs to be replaced.

Upon arrival Charles immediately started looking for employment. He was not able so far to secure a job at all. Though he has his CDL. He even applies for positions in fast food, store clerks, environmental services, you name it. Nothing. A pizza chain told him that they don't know why they keep up the sign "Drivers needed" because they already have too many. A burger joint invited him to an interview, the assistant manager told him that he was hired. He filled out all the paperwork and was told they will call him when the manager is back. No call. Eventually the assistant manager texted to come in immediately with 2 forms of ID, the manager is back. Full of hope he went over just to be told my the manager that she has no paperwork on him and she didn't know why he even came over. He showed him the texts and emails he received. She stated that he needs to reapply with her. And he did, as we are desperate for money to pay our utility bills, lot rent etc. She never responded, the "We hire" sign is still up, by the way and nobody was hired so far.

One morning, about 2 weeks ago, Charles woke up with the left side of his face paralyzed and drooping. He was rushed to the ED and diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. Thankfully not a stroke. The ED physician told him that it was most likely caused by stress. He is experiencing pain in the affected side, headache, can't close that eye and has speech problems. That of course, doesn't help with his job search. And we are still waiting for the bill from the hospital. The steroids he was prescribed, made his blood sugar surge as well.

Through all this Tyrion, our Basset, keeps us sane and smiling. He comforts with his shenanigans. If I drop an item, we trained him to pick it up and hand it to me.

All in all, we need desperately financial help at this point and still haven't given up on the dream on getting a small food truck or food cart. I had to set aside all pride and create this side, asking people for help. Anything helps. Say a prayer for us. Share our plea on your social media. Anything helps. Please help us keep our little house and getting the food truck. Thank you all so very much! I thank my friends Natalia, Abbie, Anna and Little Pops for their encouragement.

Thank you!!!