Please consider donating to help cover funeral expenses and to ease the burden on this sweet family during this difficult time. Jonathan Hofeldt passed away unexpectedly yesterday morning at the age of 27. Jonathan was an important part of his church, the community, and his family and friends, and will be dearly missed.

Funeral expenses for Jonathan Hofeldt

A shinning star, at the young age of 31, was taken from us much too soon. Jacob Ballard will be missed by many, but most of all his family. Jacob’s love for his wife, Kayla, and his two young children was absolute. On Wednesday, February 21st, 2018, Jacob was called home to heaven following a sudden heart attack, leaving family and friends wondering how this could happen to such a young fibrant young man. All funds collected are intended to be used by Kayla and the family for present and future financial burdens that are accumulating as a result is his sudden death. Thank you in advance for your generosity, thoughts and prayers at this heartbreaking time. <img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/27918926_1519273406.1172_funddescription.jpg" class="not-resizeable" width="100%">

Jacob Ballard

Emily is a passionate, elementary school teacher. She is 27 years old and a loving wife to a newspaper editor, Jon. Emily and Jon met while in school at Appalachian State University and worked side-by-side on the student newspaper. Whether it was writing articles for the student newspaper or instructing an eager classroom, Emily has always poured her heart into the task at hand. This amazing work ethic and caring personality have been pillars for her fight against acute myeloid leukemia. Throughout the month of October 2015, Emily was feeling under the weather. She went to the doctors on three separate occasions before her husband took her to the emergency room on Nov. 6. The first diagnosis in early October was a cold, the second a sinus infection and the third visit the doctors suspected it was meningitis. This diagnosis was scary, but Emily and Jon were not shaken by it as they headed to the emergency room. While in the emergency room, the doctors took blood and ran tests to determine the cause of this month-long, cold-like disease. The doctor walked in and said, “The tests have returned, and it appears that you have leukemia.” The emergency room doctor really couldn’t answer any of the hundreds of questions that dominated their thoughts, but the doctor was confident the facility in Charlotte, N.C. would be able to help. After traveling to Charlotte via ambulance, the doctors began treating Emily immediately. They conducted a bone marrow biopsy and instructed Emily and Jon that they would know more about the disease soon. The very next day, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, the doctor informed Emily that she has acute myeloid leukemia. The medical staff began a 10-day chemotherapy treatment immediately. After 41 days in the hospital, Emily was able to go home for Christmas. The first round of chemotherapy resulted in a decrease of cancerous cells from 81 percent to 1.2 percent. Now, Emily is scheduled for a bone marrow transplant toward the end of January. The doctors said the transplant is a “very good chance for a cure.” Emily and Jon have never asked for anything, but the family wants to share this story and help raise funds for medical bills, food and travel necessary because of Emily’s treatment. Our hearts reach out to this young family, and we want to help them with the financial strain that has become a burden. If you can donate $5.00, it all adds up! Let’s team up and show Emily that “No One Fights Alone!” ~ The Meltons <img class="not-resizable" src="https://2dbdd5116ffa30a49aa8-c03f075f8191fb4e60e74b907071aee8.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/6836185_1451952468.8508_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /> <img class="not-resizable" src="https://2dbdd5116ffa30a49aa8-c03f075f8191fb4e60e74b907071aee8.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/6836185_1451954808.0185_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /> <img class="not-resizable" src="https://2dbdd5116ffa30a49aa8-c03f075f8191fb4e60e74b907071aee8.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/6836185_1451949275.5708_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /> <img class="not-resizable" src="https://2dbdd5116ffa30a49aa8-c03f075f8191fb4e60e74b907071aee8.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/6836185_1451949328.1691_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /> <img class="not-resizable" src="https://2dbdd5116ffa30a49aa8-c03f075f8191fb4e60e74b907071aee8.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/6836185_1451949605.55_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />

Emily's Battle Against Leukemia 

My name is Laura and I am a passionate 5th grade public school teacher. I love teaching and desire to see my students succeed in ALL areas of life.  At my school, we serve students from a variety of ethnicities and social classes, but their common need for a well-rounded education transcends all other factors. Though our students come from different neighborhoods and family situations, we strive to create a feeling of strong community and high standards of learning for all our students. We desire for our wonderful students to achieve their goals and dreams. We believe that the road to success begins in the elementary classroom, and within the pages of books. Each year, our students struggle to read a complete book from the beginning to the end. Many students lack motiviation to read and have NEVER discovered the power of books and a love for reading. In order to help create motivated readers and foster a true love of reading, one of our colleagues suggested trying the "40 Books Challenge". This program challenges students to read at least 40 books during the school year, and makes them accountable for each book that they read by taking an Accelerated Reader quiz after each book that they complete. In the past, we have seen GREAT SUCCESS with this challenge and have been amazed at how reluctant readers have become excited readers who are proud of what they can accomplish.  Not only have the students gained a love for reading, but student achievment levels skyrocketed!  Sadly, this year our school cannot afford the crucial Accelerated Reader program that pairs with the "40 Books Challenge." Without this program, there is no student accountability, and the children find ways around actually reading their books.  We need to purchase the AR program as soon as possible, as the school year is already underway, and we are EAGER to see our students begin reading and growing. For around $2,000, we can purchase the Accelerated Reader program for THREE grade levels (grades 3-5), which actually costs less than buying it for just one grade level. This program will serve 9 classes, and approximately 225 children. Please help us help our amazing children! THANK YOU in advance for your generous donations. You could affect a child's future for the better!

Help our students read to succeed! 

Kristin Taylor is a vivacious, compassionate and hard working woman. In her twenty years as a Physical Therapist Assistant she has shown dedication and love by providing exceptional care to those in need. She is also an incredibly loving daughter, sister, wife, aunt, friend and colleague. Now she is in need of our help. Last week, after suffering from severe headaches her husband Craig took her to the Emergency Room. A CT scan revealed a very rare and potentially deadly form of a stroke- Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis. She was immediately rushed to Forsyth Medical Center in Winston Salem. Kristin is currently in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit making slow, but positive progress. She is a fighter. Lets fight with Kristin, in prayer and action. Any amount donated will ease the stress this unpredictable situation has caused herself and her family. Thank you for taking the time to give to someone who has made it her life to give to others.

Autumn Musshafen