Title:

A Fresh Start at 63 — Help Paul Get Back on His Feet

Story:

Hi, my name is Paul Pena, and I’m 63 years old. I’ve worked my entire life as a tradesman, mostly as an electrician. I’ve raised a beautiful family — two sons of my own, one young man who became like a son to me, and a daughter. They’re all hardworking adults now and have blessed me with wonderful grandchildren. I’m proud of the life I’ve lived, but now I’m facing one of the toughest moments I’ve ever had.

A couple of months ago, after a 12-hour shift, I fell asleep behind the wheel on my way home. I woke up being dragged sideways down the interstate at 70 mph after rear-ending a tractor trailer. I still remember the faces of the people in the cars passing me. I somehow managed to steer my truck off the trailer — but the crash totaled my vehicle and left me shaken. It was the third vehicle I’ve lost in a year.

I hit my head harder than I realized, but I tried to go back to work anyway. I kept showing up late, not quite myself, and I ended up getting fired.

Now, I’m out of work, without a vehicle, and falling behind on all of my bills. I live out in the country with no public transportation, and I can’t even get to the grocery store. I’ve never been great with saving, and I don’t have a retirement fund to fall back on. What I do have is a strong work ethic, a clear mind, and a will to keep going.

I’m not asking to get rich — I’m asking for a second chance. I need:

• A reliable used pickup to get to and from work

• Help catching up on bills so I can stay in my home

• A little support while I retrain, possibly in IT or another field that will allow me to work smarter, not just harder

I’ve spent my life helping build and maintain the backbone of America’s infrastructure. I’ve mentored younger workers, shown them how to work with their hands and minds, and taught them the value of doing a job right. Now, I need just a bit of that kindness in return.

If you can help — even just by sharing — I would be deeply grateful. Every dollar will go toward getting back on my feet so I can keep doing what I love: working hard and contributing to this great country.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Your support means more than I can say

Paul Pena