Help Tom & Barbara — Stranded in the Heat in a Walmart Parking Lot with their Dog Layla

For the past 3 months, Tom and Barbara — a kind-hearted older couple — have been living in a Walmart parking lot in their broken-down 1979 Tioga RV.

Their goal was to move to the mountains of western North Carolina and start a simple homestead on a piece of land they purchased. But about four hours from their destination, their RV broke down — leaving them stranded with no way to finish their journey.

Now, they’re stuck at Walmart in a parking lot with no shade, parked on a blazing hot asphalt lot. They have no air conditioning, no running water, and no sewer connection. Their only source of power is a small generator, which allows them to run a refrigerator and a couple of fans. Every few days, Tom walks 2-miles — pushing a shopping cart — to buy gas for the generator.

Meanwhile, Barbara who recently underwent hip replacement surgery, finds that even short walks into Walmart a painful challenge.

The Problem

Their RV needs a new flywheel — a rare and expensive part that’s difficult to source for a 1979 Chevy motor, and difficult to install due to the type of vehicle. Since they are unable to afford the tow and repair at this time, they are essentially stranded.

Despite everything, they’ve remained hopeful, full of faith, and determined not to lose heart. But the heat is taking a toll — not just on their RV, but on their health, energy, and emotional well-being.

How You Can Help

We’re asking for your help to:

Whether you’re an RVer who’s ever stayed overnight at a Walmart… or someone who simply believes in helping others through hard times… every donation makes a difference.

Let’s come together and help Tom, Barbara, and Layla get out of the heat and back on the road — to a life of peace, dignity, and self-sufficiency on the land they’ve worked so hard for.

❤️ Thank You

Tom and Barbara have humble hearts and have not asked for any financial assistance. But after seeing their situation, we wanted to help them.

Please give what you can — and if you can’t donate right now, please consider sharing this page with others.