Hi, I'm John. You aren’t going to believe this, but it’s all true. My wife and I volunteered in a group home in 1989 and met 11-year-old Tim Will. We helped him along his journey, and today we are like family. Tim and his partner have a teenager and a 6-year-old son (pictured). Tim is an excellent carpenter, and he works hard. He has always stayed away from alcohol and drugs.

Recently life has dropped four boulders on this family. Both parents are too sick to work. They are resilient but have no income, no savings, sometimes no food, and are terrified of losing their housing or transportation soon.

In early 2021, someone stole Tim’s Social Security number. The agency has blocked the number ever since. As a result, the IRS has refused to send him two tax refunds and several stimulus payments.

Second, in fall 2021, he suffered kidney failure. He applied immediately for state disability payments but has received nothing to this day. He is fully disabled and surviving on dialysis.

Third, since February 2022, Tim’s partner also has been fully disabled and suffering severe pain. She too has applied for Disability, but no payments have started. Fourth, she is due an income tax refund for 2021 but the IRS has not sent it. They say only that they are investigating. (Can you believe this perfect storm?)

Tim tried many times to present his identity documents to Social Security. In April he wrote his US Congressman, who finally got him an appointment. But his number is still blocked. He has called Disability, written, and reapplied. In April he wrote his State Senator, who also wrote the agency. Not a single response, not even a rejection.

Each has asked relatives for help and hasn’t received any so far. Tim has been forced to sell tools he had used to earn income. This summer their teenager got a part-time job and is contributing some. They have tried food banks, but often after a 3-hour wait, supplies have run out before they could get any.

This summer Tim had to return to the hospital twice, once for three weeks. His partner could hardly get out of bed to care for their boy. They have not made frivolous financial decisions.

Their essential monthly bills total $3,500. They depend on Medicaid to cover health care. Our starting goal is $10,500 to cover home assistance while both parents are sick (10 hours a week for one month) plus basic bills through Thanksgiving (3 months).

Please consider a donation of any amount to help this deserving family have a genuine thanksgiving! They need it immediately. Either way, please share and forward this to your networks. Thank you so much!