Helping My Half-Brother Gain a Fresh Start in Life
Donation protected
As many of you already know, I spent the past six months trying to find my birth parents but I ended up discovering a whole lot more- I found my half-brother Greg who was homeless on the streets of Gainesville, Florida. Before I could get down there to try and "save him", he was arrested for stealing food while trying to survive. He's being released from jail in a few weeks and I need your help!
This campaign is to help Greg get a fresh start in life...but it's also to show him how many awesome people there are in the world that truly care. He will have absolutely nothing come release day so we're trying to raise enough cash to get him the basic essentials in life- clothes toiletries, etc.
I don't want to deceive anyone- Greg has been in and out of jail his entire adult life. He grew up poor and in the wrong environment, so like many teens these days he turned to selling marijuana. Only, under Florida law a few small crimes become a very big deal- he was facing a five year maximum sentence this past go-round for stealing less than $15 in food. Luckily, I was able to intervene and get the public defender to agree to six months, which is still ridiculous for the crime but it's still well under Florida minimum sentencing requirements.
He was "lucky" to get six months- even though it averages out to a day in prison per nickle that he stole.
While getting to know Greg over these past few months, I've learned that he was one heck of a person despite the narrowest of odds. He got out of jail about five years ago, found full time employment as a cook and steadily worked his way up to management. All of his co-workers told me he was the hardest worker they had and he was really respected for turning his life around, yet a freak accident crushed his hand at work and he was forced out on medical leave...and eventually laid off because his rehab was so extensive. He did regain use of his hand but lost everything else in the process, which is how he ended up on the streets and starving.
As I said earlier, Greg does not deserve your pity- he's made mistakes in life and has to make peace with that. But he's already turned his life around completely and I'm taking him into my home so he can thrive...he just needs a little bit of help to begin that journey. More importantly though, I'd really love for you to show him what's possible when you embrace good people and live your life right...karma is real. Please help me show him that.
I'm not asking for much, so please feel free to give just a few dollars and wish Greg luck on the next chapter of his life. We'll be hitting the nearest Wal-Mart as soon as I pick him up on February 26th and it would be so awesome to tell him that hundreds of you pitched in. If we end up raising even more than the $250 goal, that money will go to getting him licensed and on his way towards his first car.
I want to say thank you in advance and God Bless You for actually caring! Even if you can't donate a few dollars, sharing this post would be a huge help for Greg's cause.
If you're interested in reading the story about my adoption journey and how I found Greg, you can read it here .
This campaign is to help Greg get a fresh start in life...but it's also to show him how many awesome people there are in the world that truly care. He will have absolutely nothing come release day so we're trying to raise enough cash to get him the basic essentials in life- clothes toiletries, etc.
I don't want to deceive anyone- Greg has been in and out of jail his entire adult life. He grew up poor and in the wrong environment, so like many teens these days he turned to selling marijuana. Only, under Florida law a few small crimes become a very big deal- he was facing a five year maximum sentence this past go-round for stealing less than $15 in food. Luckily, I was able to intervene and get the public defender to agree to six months, which is still ridiculous for the crime but it's still well under Florida minimum sentencing requirements.
He was "lucky" to get six months- even though it averages out to a day in prison per nickle that he stole.
While getting to know Greg over these past few months, I've learned that he was one heck of a person despite the narrowest of odds. He got out of jail about five years ago, found full time employment as a cook and steadily worked his way up to management. All of his co-workers told me he was the hardest worker they had and he was really respected for turning his life around, yet a freak accident crushed his hand at work and he was forced out on medical leave...and eventually laid off because his rehab was so extensive. He did regain use of his hand but lost everything else in the process, which is how he ended up on the streets and starving.
As I said earlier, Greg does not deserve your pity- he's made mistakes in life and has to make peace with that. But he's already turned his life around completely and I'm taking him into my home so he can thrive...he just needs a little bit of help to begin that journey. More importantly though, I'd really love for you to show him what's possible when you embrace good people and live your life right...karma is real. Please help me show him that.
I'm not asking for much, so please feel free to give just a few dollars and wish Greg luck on the next chapter of his life. We'll be hitting the nearest Wal-Mart as soon as I pick him up on February 26th and it would be so awesome to tell him that hundreds of you pitched in. If we end up raising even more than the $250 goal, that money will go to getting him licensed and on his way towards his first car.
I want to say thank you in advance and God Bless You for actually caring! Even if you can't donate a few dollars, sharing this post would be a huge help for Greg's cause.
If you're interested in reading the story about my adoption journey and how I found Greg, you can read it here .
Organizer
Keith Koons
Organizer
Campobello, SC
