Jona's Recovery from Assault

Jona responded to an Instagram plea for Skateboard SKoaches (coaches). He jumped on the bus and made it to the skatepark in 20 minutes. We had a wonderful meeting about his life experiences and his family. He shared about taking care of his little brother and loving to work with children. He had a happy, upbeat, contagious demeanor. I didn't wait till our next visit, at that moment I threw him in a SKoach tee and sent him to the real judges; the children.

They not only followed him everywhere he went, but they also requested him to be their SKoach, and to sit next to him at lunch. He quickly became a part of the Talent family. Teaching lessons every Saturday, and whenever else needed. He is kind. He is genuine. He is an incredible member of our community.

Sometimes bad things happen to the most wonderful individuals. Tuesday, January 17th Jona came out of his house, where he was helping his Mom make dinner, to investigate some screaming. There was a scuffle going on (things are still under investigation) Jona asked for the people to leave, and in doing so he was assaulted. Outnumbered, outpowered, and not looking for problems. They punched his face, knocked his tooth out, split his forehead open, and split his lips. It was more than his body could handle and he passed out in the snow on the side of the road. And that is where they left him for his parents to scoop him up. Mom thought he was dead.

Jona and his Mother Maya need our help. Missing school, needing counseling. Costs of the ER, costs of dentistry, missed work, medical bills, and legal aid.

Please consider helping this family out. Please consider helping Jona heal; mentally and physically. Thank you