Please help Donna lay Chaz to rest

Donna Parker (Gallagher)has humbly asked our assistance in setting up a go fund me page. After a long battle her best friend, partner and love of her life for 39 years her husband Charles (Chaz) lost the fight! Dec.16th. when he died peacefully at home with Donna at his side, right where she has been for close to 4 yrs. now. She kept her promise to keep him home despite the consequences that decision came with, as her vocation in mental Health and Addiction had to be put on hold. Once her husband's illness progressed it was clear that he needed 24/7 care which they could not pay for nor were they eligible for any assistance, this didn't matter, It took priority over everything, no matter what the cost.

Donna and Chaz knew each other for 41 years and were best friends before taking that next step and were together 39+yrs.Donna was a single mother of a 2 year old Son and Chaz had 3 children and through all of those years Charles nurtured and fully supported his now blended family. When Chas got sick after completing the Revel casino, he had a toe amputated and then the long cruel disease of diabetes and all the issues it causes began, including more amputations and blindness. In the early stages of her husband's illness Donna tried her best to juggle her deep commitment and passion working in the addictions and mental health field as well as one of most tenacious NCADD advocates in the state of new jersey, Atlantic county she worked in every area of treatment and even though a licensed clinician she also was trained as a recovery coach, and was part of the 1st CCAR graduating class held in South jersey, Donna also devoted her time to NJRR, advocating for the highest of standards of recovery houses and was even trained as an inspector. You would be hard pressed to mention her name in the field where no one knew her. She loved what she did, and it was never a job to her., Until her forever sweetheart, her hero, the love of her life got sick. By 2019, he needed 24/ 7 care bedridden and going blind. For the next 4 yrs she dedicated her time and energy to Chaz, even while battling her own cancer in 2020. Losing 2 incomes was difficult and assets quickly dissolved. By the time Chaz passed away Saturday, 12/16/23 they had been surviving on a modest SS check and a small pension. So there isn't enough to cover expenses for his services and cover her immediate debts and living expenses, For the first time Donna is opening up to her Tribe that she is in desperate need of our help; this wasn’t an easy thing for her to agree to, but she’s so grateful others have stepped up to let her recovery community , her friends, family, and all the people she has touched in a positive way these past dozen years. Know she is in need.

Donna has touched many lives and did it with a grateful heart, hopefully we can show her how much she meant to so many. No donation is too small, and every penny will go directly to helping Donna and her needs for Chaz’s modest funeral service, and to cover basic living expenses and some immediate debts until she can get back on track , including returning to what she loves in some capacity, and knowing Donna this will not take very long. She is full of faith that God is not done with her yet, and anyone who knows her, or about her, knows she will come thru this, with a little help from her Tribe, so please share this and spread the word, and the love.

Thank you and God bless you.