Help this good man living in his truck

We live on Manhattan Beach Boulevard in a counter alley without meters or permits.

A beat-up pick-up is often parked in front of our house and after years of not really engaging with the discreet owner (by fear or by habit of not interfering in other's lives) we started talking to him in recent weeks.

His situation in a few words: Lost his wife and 4 children with Katrina. Life spiraled out of control and he lost his import/export business. No alcohol or substance-related issues. Has lung cancer which he treats sporadically by driving to the UCLA hospital for treatments and with an antique breathing device in the back of his truck. Lives in his truck with his beloved but pretty skinny poodle. Tries to make a living by recycling glass and plastic bottles that he picks up not from garbage cans, but from a few restaurants whose owners are happy to help him.

So how can WE help him too? Where to start?  

By helping him fix his truck, for which he needs new break pads.

Right now, he can’t pick up bottles or take the freeway to go to the hospital.

He only drives the truck locally, changing streets following the street cleaning schedule.

Looking online, $600 is probably all it would take for him to get new break pads, get them installed and fix his truck.

 His plan? Wait for the next welfare check to start fixing his truck on axle at a time, even if it means missing out many weeks of making a few bucks from recycling bottles and going to UCLA Hospital.

Our plan? Asking for your help on his behalf. Will you help us help this man?

He doesn’t know we’re doing this on his behalf, and he would probably not like that at all, simply because he’s a man who survives anything that comes his way without asking for help. So don’t expect pictures or names, but please reach out if you want to talk to him directly (that he'll appreciate).

Thank you in advance for your help.