Please Join Us in Easing Brenda's Burden

**Update - October 29th**

Many thanks for your generosity thus far. I'm saddened to say that Luis, unfortunately, has died. Luis was a veteran and beloved member of our Trinidadian community in Atlanta. Most importantly though, he was a loving husband to Brenda and patriarch of their family (which included all the students who migrated to the area from Trinidad in the 90s).

Please keep Brenda and his family in your thoughts at this difficult time.

Hi. Please help me to help Brenda & Luis. I migrated to Atlanta from Trinidad and Tobago 33 years ago to attend college. At the time, I could count on one hand how many people I knew. As time passed, my community grew to include many other Trinidadian students and also adults who opened their homes and welcomed us in. Brenda and Luis were two of those adults.

This couple did not know us, but they knew that we were foreign students in a new country who had no family nearby and missed home - and home cooking - terribly. Brenda was the first mas bandleader I knew here, and Luis was a mean ironman – albeit, as I would later learn, a Puerto Rican! They were both fun loving, warm and together, the couple was a driving force in our small community. For many years, there was no question where we would be on New Year’s Day - it was Brenda and Luis’ home where I could never get enough of the roast pork.

Over the years, they have both been afflicted with numerous health problems from stroke to breast cancer to diabetes and kidney failure. When life is disrupted by medical issues, bills don’t stop – they keep coming and eventually increase because of the often-unexpected medical expenses. I want to give back to these two individuals; to ease their financial burdens in the same way that they helped me overcome the cultural burdens I experienced moving to a new country so many years ago.

I cannot do it alone. Let’s do this together…let’s help Brenda and Luis. Please donate and feel free to share my story.

Your support will go a long way to help them in their time of need.

Thank you for your support!