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I am writing asking for help for Joe. I have known Joe for 7-8 years, he is the sweetest soul.
I used to pass by him regularly during my lunch hour in downtown Toronto. After about two years of this we struck up a conversation. One day I invited him to Tim Horton's for a sandwich lunch and we had a wonderful conversation. Over time we have built trust and a relationship. Joe used to work then faced a health issue and has been on disability since, bound to a wheelchair. His annual disability income is $11,160. I repeat: Cdn $11,160 annually. That's $930/month. To make ends meet he has panhandled. I met him as he was panhandling.
With the Covid crisis people are not out and about as before, and police are insisting he stay at home in accordance with provincial guildlines - thus he cannot make ends meet financially. Add to this his health issues are getting more complicated, and going outdoors to try and beg for money in the winter is detrimental to his physical health. It's not good. I'm going to do my best to advocate for this good man, who is on his own.
I have done my due diligence over time to feel certain that we are not being taken advantage of. We are helping him as we can. For example, his winter coat and boots were stolen in December...sometimes the Food Bank blessing is not enough...inhalers for breathing are covered by disability to a point, but not as often as he's now needing, the Respirologist (breathing specialist) nor his Family Doctor can do anything to get him refills, he has to pay cash....the churches that serve food during winter months ("Out of the Cold" programs and the like) are closed during the pandemic...What in the world are the needy doing during the pandemic? Fyi - Joe doesn't have an addiction, including cigarettes. I have realized a very cold, harsh reality: that someone in his position, who does not have anyone to advocate for them or take care of them, is actually left to wither away.
I am registering him with more governmental services so that he hopefully has more assistance in the future - the process has been lengthy. Frankly, I have been shocked at the difficulty to get through at times. His family has not been there to help (I suspect forever). Yet he remains as optimistic as he can, he is a good, kind soul.
I am asking for your trust. This is the first time I've put forth a GoFundMe effort. If I had the funds, I'd take care of the business myself. If he were fortunate to have you respond and donate to his cause, I'm hoping that I could upload a picture of the text of thanks that he would most certainly send me, so that you could feel his gratitude. Oh - why does he spend money on a cell phone? So that he can call his doctor, his case co-ordinator from social services, and have some semblance of a normal life by reading the news and watching uplifting videos.
If you can even donate $5 or $10 it would be very much appreciated.
Blessings to you and yours, please take good care. Thank you very much for reading this.
Millie
I used to pass by him regularly during my lunch hour in downtown Toronto. After about two years of this we struck up a conversation. One day I invited him to Tim Horton's for a sandwich lunch and we had a wonderful conversation. Over time we have built trust and a relationship. Joe used to work then faced a health issue and has been on disability since, bound to a wheelchair. His annual disability income is $11,160. I repeat: Cdn $11,160 annually. That's $930/month. To make ends meet he has panhandled. I met him as he was panhandling.
With the Covid crisis people are not out and about as before, and police are insisting he stay at home in accordance with provincial guildlines - thus he cannot make ends meet financially. Add to this his health issues are getting more complicated, and going outdoors to try and beg for money in the winter is detrimental to his physical health. It's not good. I'm going to do my best to advocate for this good man, who is on his own.
I have done my due diligence over time to feel certain that we are not being taken advantage of. We are helping him as we can. For example, his winter coat and boots were stolen in December...sometimes the Food Bank blessing is not enough...inhalers for breathing are covered by disability to a point, but not as often as he's now needing, the Respirologist (breathing specialist) nor his Family Doctor can do anything to get him refills, he has to pay cash....the churches that serve food during winter months ("Out of the Cold" programs and the like) are closed during the pandemic...What in the world are the needy doing during the pandemic? Fyi - Joe doesn't have an addiction, including cigarettes. I have realized a very cold, harsh reality: that someone in his position, who does not have anyone to advocate for them or take care of them, is actually left to wither away.
I am registering him with more governmental services so that he hopefully has more assistance in the future - the process has been lengthy. Frankly, I have been shocked at the difficulty to get through at times. His family has not been there to help (I suspect forever). Yet he remains as optimistic as he can, he is a good, kind soul.
I am asking for your trust. This is the first time I've put forth a GoFundMe effort. If I had the funds, I'd take care of the business myself. If he were fortunate to have you respond and donate to his cause, I'm hoping that I could upload a picture of the text of thanks that he would most certainly send me, so that you could feel his gratitude. Oh - why does he spend money on a cell phone? So that he can call his doctor, his case co-ordinator from social services, and have some semblance of a normal life by reading the news and watching uplifting videos.
If you can even donate $5 or $10 it would be very much appreciated.
Blessings to you and yours, please take good care. Thank you very much for reading this.
Millie