Let's Help Barry Blackburn-Creel

Hi, my name is Lindsey Hurst and I've set up this fundraiser to help a dear friend of mine Barry Blackburn Creel at a time when he really could use a lot of support. My kids and I have been fortunate to have Barry in our lives for more than a decade. We crossed paths at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church when he and his partner started attending. It wasn't long before he was not only a friend, but my kids most favorite Sunday school teacher as well. If you know Barry then you know his life's passion has been molding the minds and hearts of children, his husband Dan & his precious family. His deep passion and devotion was what drew me in and his incredible heart and personality, sense of humor kept me coming back for more.

Barry needs his friends now possibly more than ever before. The road Barry has traveled since losing his husband Dan to cancer has been a nonstop struggle with managing his grief from losing Dan, losing his mother & most of all the realization that his health setbacks were going to prevent him from safely continuing as a childhood teacher. Doctors tried to buy him more relief from his sleep apnea by performing a Tracheotomy and there was some improvement, but his apnea coupled with a dibilitating chronic pain in his legs and feet gave him no other choice but to quit his teacher career. This enormous change came in May of 2022. Other opportunities to teach were attempted but the physical toll was too great. All options to apply for unemployement were not available to him because his former employer had been a church. This unfortunate turn required Barry to live off of the savings he and Dan had acquired together, but without a job and bills coming due Barry was unable to maintain payment where he was living and in the last months has found himself without a consistent place to sleep at night. His medical needs were pushed aside and any money he could get from selling his things or the kindness of a small circle made aware of his situation went towards gas for his car. There have been many positive steps made in the last month. Barry has been safely staying with my Mother-in-law which has provided him enough time to apply for housing assistance, apply for disability and most importantly to address his medical issues with doctors who can help him his growing list of health concerns. Before his current situation there were nights Barry was sleeping in his car. He has bills he cannot pay that have come due and he will be making a plan to sell more of his things to keep car insurance, his storage fees & pay for gas in his car. Oak Lawn United Methodist Church where he has been a longtime member is doing what they can to assist him, but he is going to need his friends and family to rally around him in order to get out of his current situation. All offers of help, job searching assistance, a safe place to stay, and of course monetary donations could be life changing for Barry right now. No amount is too small. Barry has meant the world to me over the years and I'm so grateful to him for what he has done for me and my kids. I have no doubt he means the world to you too. Please help if you feel led to do so. Thank you.