New Home in Naples for a family of 7

I am sharing a fundraiser for my brother John, his wife Linda, and their five children ages 16, 14, 14, 11 and 2. My nephews (his three sons) unexpectedly lost their mother one year ago. Along with grief, my nephews have had to endure moving schools, states, and homes. John and Linda are working extremely hard to provide the best educational opportunities and build a safe, loving and normal life for their children. However, they could use a little support to provide these necessities for their family. They specifically need some support to purchase a home in Naples Florida. The tragic and sudden loss of their son’s mother and the rising cost of living has brought unforeseen financial hardship. After a very difficult year they have made the decision to move out of Miami to a more suitable area for their family. You may share this, pray for them and/or donate as you feel led. The following is a more detailed sequence of events, told from John’s perspective, that has brought them to where they are now.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. As most of you know; out-side of the impacts we all have experienced over the last few years, our family has experienced very unique and hard challenges. I have three sons whom always come to Florida for the summer and school breaks. I always ensured the boys have a home here in Florida and that they have their belongings, having their own beds, pictures on the walls, clothes, everything to ensure they feel at home, (not visiting uncle dad). Last summer particularly everything changed. While spending time together fishing one Saturday we received an unexpected phone call, my son’s uncle called and explained there was an accident, and the boy’s mom was being rushed to the ER. As I gained updates privately, I took the boys home, fed them dinner and got them showered before I had to explain we would be flying out of Miami to Nashville at 5:00am to see their mom as they would be saying good bye.

After burying their mom, they boys and my wife came back to Florida, we had only two weeks to get FL health insurance, so we could get them physicals to register for school, those of you with children can imagine how difficult this was. Never the less, my wife pulled it off. Now prior to this my wife and I married and had a baby during the pandemic, myself being laid off due to covid. As we navigated out of the pandemic and things began to return to normal, we had moved about an hour north of Miami which had been our previous home. Once the boys came, we were only able to register them in a school which we have connections with in south Miami, there for creating a pain staking commute. I would leave my house at 6:00am so I could drop them off by 8:00am with traffic, then working until 9 or 10 at night most nights. My wife working from home with the baby, and would leave the house at 1:30pm and begin the picking up process only to return home by 5:30pm.

It has been a very challenging few years for all of my family, this is just a glimpse into the challenges we have faced and overcome.

We have decided to relocate for a better quality of life for all of us. We desperately need a break from the chaos. However; with the rising cost of housing across the country and especially the huge impact in southern Florida, we are simply asking for a little help in securing our new home and place of refuge. Any donations big or small are greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much.