Support for family of Lonnie Nicholson

Hi , my name is Chuck Roach and I am hoping that you will read further about a unique situation that a friend and I had last August.

We were having lunch at a local restaurant, and the initial service was slow. When a waitress noticed that we hadn’t been waited on, she immediately called it to the hostess’ attention. We thanked her for her vigilance in seeing a problem and tending to us right away. We weren’t upset, just glad she was taking care of us that day.

She asked us how we were doing, and we said, ‘fine and how are you’. She said in a calm steady voice, ‘fine but my car broke down on the way to work today. So what will you have to drink today’? When she returned with our drinks, we asked her about her car and what she was going to do. There was a moment of silence and she told us she didn’t know, but she needed her car. My friend, Paul said, let’s say a prayer for you, your family and your situation. As we prayed, she fell apart. There was so much hurt on her face, yet the prayer seemed to ease her pain. We asked more and she said her car was their new home. She and her three sons had to leave their rental home because the owner was selling it. Two of her sons, 18 years old, found friends that they could stay with until they got back on their feet. The third son is autistic and was very uncomfortable away from his Mom. The two of them had been sleeping in their car when she couldn’t make enough tips to get a hotel room.

As Paul and I finished up our meals, we discussed her dire situation. We both left very substantial tips. When she saw the tips, I think she knew it was heaven sent. She hugged our necks as we were leaving. That’s only the start of things to come.

The next day I went in during slow hours and talked to her about her situation and I gave her enough money to get a hotel room for three nights, but something in my heart said, that’s not enough! I could not imagine being in her situation and staying strong. I continued contact with her for some time with some financial support along the way.

She had saved every penny she could to rent another house so she could be with all of her sons.

During the fall months, we have a life group at Church where we gather to eat, socialize and study the Bible. One in our group said, ‘why aren’t we helping as a group, that’s what God wants us to do. It’s a service unto Him.

We went to her and asked what she needed from us, she said that she needed almost everything to furnish her new home. We were gathering up all the extra things we had at our homes, but a lot of furnishings were still needed. We found things at almost every turn. We went to a furniture store and asked if they had some old furniture that we could buy and we knew they couldn’t sell or give away used beds, so that was an issue. We had told her we really needed some box springs and mattresses, a sofa and a big fluffy chair that the autistic son said he really would like to have. We told her our story and why we needed these items. The store owner pondered for a minute and asked us to come back that afternoon.

Talking about prayers answered. The furniture store owner had furnished us with all our requests with all new furnishings.

Things were going well with the new home and she was working two jobs when things got tight. We could see the happiness that she now had.

Unfortunately, she had a set back after a doctor’s visit about two weeks ago. The doctor told her that she had some serious heart issues and had to stay off her feet for at least two weeks and he was scheduling some heart tests. This was devastating to her because she couldn’t afford to be out of work.

On August 10th she received the most devastating news any mother could hear. Her son, a high school graduate and a star football player for the Reidsville Rams had a horrific accident while four wheeling. He didn’t make it. Our entire community is in mourning, in shock and feeling sorrow for all of the family.

I’m asking that if anyone feels the need in their heart to donate to this family, all would be so overwhelmingly appreciated. She has lost a blessing in her life, her job and possibly losing another home. This only in a matter of days.

All donations will go to funeral expenses, rent, utilities, food and any other necessities needed through this painful experience. I have become very close to this family over the course of nine months. Anything that you can give will not only mean a lot to this family, but also to our life group that has worked through our Lord to provide for someone in need. God puts us in the right place at the right time to help other.