The truth about charity is that it's easy to give, and hard to ask for. I don't really want to ask for help, but here we are. This last weekend, someone stole some items from our van, including my Fuji X-T3 camera and its attached lens.

That camera has been a nearly constant companion for the last 4 years. It got me through the rough period starting as a freelancer for The B.C. Catholic. It has taken photos of some of the most important memories of our family, including the birth of two of our children, and it has allowed me to document the life of the Catholic Church in Vancouver through (sometimes award-winning) photography as the Reporter for The B.C. Catholic.

I made this petition because, while we have the money to replace the camera, we can't really afford it. The funds needed to buy a replacement would need to come from the money I've been making on the side to take paternity leave when our fourth child joins us in the Spring. More money might come, but I've been burning the candle at both ends to make this work. Some of the money was also intended for Christmas presents and minor household repairs.

I am hoping this GoFundMe will be seen by one of two people.

First are friends and family. If you have even a few spare dollars to help us out, I would be eternally grateful.

The second group would be people who receive The B.C. Catholic newspaper. Over the last few years, a lot of people have come up to me at events and told me A: they are grateful for what the paper is doing, and B: the photos, specifically, in the paper have never looked better, and that this increase in quality made a meaningful impact on their appreciation of the paper. If this describes you, please consider a donation, if you care about The B.C. Catholic, if my work has touched your heart in the last few years, or if you'd simply like to support local Catholic journalism and reporting, please consider a donation. If you are connected to an organization I have covered that benefited from my work, please consider a donation. I used this camera for personal work, as well as work that has appeared in the paper. I also have ambitions, which are slowly being realized, to do more independent work; this camera is necessary for that to happen. Getting this tool back means freedom and flexibility.

What am I actually hoping to replace?

A Fujifilm X-T3 + a lens

Two SD Cards

Strap

If more money comes in than I need, I am considering upgrading to a better camera. The older model is becoming increasingly difficult to find, and while I trusted the copy of the camera I owned, purchasing used cameras can be somewhat risky. A warranty is a must for a work tool, as well, which can be challenging to obtain for used gear. An upgrade would simply mean getting a Fuji X-T5. I am also interested in getting a Ricoh GR4, but this would be sort of a dream/would need to be the result of a miracle.

Regardless, I would be grateful beyond belief to simply replace the seven-year-old camera I had been using.

If I get more money than needed for photography gear, the extra would be donated to a local charity, most likely Luke 15 Recovery House, which helps recovering addicts with criminal records sort out their lives and get clean. They are by far my favourite organization I've covered for the paper.

If you've read this far, you are likely considering helping us out. Even if you aren't in a position to help financially, sharing this with other people who might be interested in helping a young family would still be a great help.

To be clear, regardless of how successful this is, we will be trying to replace the camera. This would just make that easier.

Thanks for your time, and God Bless!