Joshua Liljenquist

When we met Lamondo this winter, he was living in a homeless shelter, and still trying to help someone else. Lamondo is 31 years old. He served in the Army as a 68W combat medic, built a life in St. Louis, and then lost his home after a tornado. He came to Minnesota to start over, separated from his daughter and unsure what would come next. Lamondo didn’t give up. Since that video was filmed, he found a job in security and has already been promoted. He has built a lot of momentum, but he's still living at the shelter. We’re raising money to provide Lamondo with the help he needs to move into safe, stable housing. Donations will go toward apartment applications, security deposit, first month’s rent, basic furniture, and move-in essentials. This is a chance to stand behind someone who has served, who is working hard, and who is doing everything he can to rebuild. Anything you can give will help Lamondo take the next step from surviving to really starting over.

When I met Clyde, I told him my blood sugar was low. He did not hesitate. Clyde is diabetic too, so he went inside, brought me sugar tablets, and when I asked why he helped a stranger, he said: “Because you need help.” That one sentence explains exactly who Clyde is. Clyde is 77 years old and has spent his life helping people. He worked with the Red Cross, helped with emergency communications, and has always been the type of person who shows up when someone else is in need. Now Clyde is the one who needs help. Clyde lives alone in the home he has left while his wife is in a nursing home. He spends most of what he has trying to care for her, and now the foundation of his house needs major repair. It is a problem bigger than what Clyde can afford on his own. This fundraiser has one clear purpose: To help Clyde fix the foundation of his home so he can stay there safely. Money raised will go toward a proper inspection, foundation repairs, and the home-safety work needed to keep Clyde in his house. If there is anything left after the repair costs, it will go toward Clyde’s basic home needs and care expenses. Clyde helped me when I needed it. Now we are trying to help him when he needs it. If you can donate anything, it will help give a 77-year-old man who spent his life helping others a safe place to stay. Thank you for helping Clyde.

While filming a video, I met a woman who was holding a garage sale for a heartbreaking reason. She wasn’t trying to save for a vacation or pay off a credit card. She was trying to raise money to bury a loved one. As she shared her story, it became clear that she was carrying an incredible amount of pain while also trying to handle the financial burden that comes with losing someone you love. Instead of asking for handouts, she was out there doing everything she could to help herself. She was selling personal belongings and working hard to come up with the money needed for funeral and burial expenses. No family should have to worry about how they are going to lay a loved one to rest. That is why we created this fundraiser. Every dollar raised will go directly toward helping her and her family cover funeral and burial costs. If we raise more than the immediate expenses, the remaining funds will go toward helping the family with related end-of-life expenses and financial hardships created by this loss. If you feel led to help, any amount makes a difference. If you cannot donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser and keeping the family in your prayers. Thank you for showing kindness during a difficult time.

At 77, Beth still shows up to work with the kind of warmth that makes a stranger feel like a friend. We met Beth in the checkout of a local store, where she works as a cashier. She told us she is widowed after losing her husband. She still owes about $160,000 on her home, so working is not just something she enjoys... it is part of how she keeps up with life and the payments on her house. Beth lights up around people. In her own words, “People make me happy.” But she also shared that if she didn’t work, she “wouldn’t be able to do much.” When we tried to give Beth money directly, she didn’t want to take it. She said there are “people out there who are hungry.” That tells you the kind of woman she is... We’re raising this to help Beth make her mortgage payments, and have more comfort, security, and choice in this season of life. Beth should go to work because she loves seeing people, not because she has to. Any gift, big or small, helps. And if you can’t give, sharing Beth’s story would mean so much.

Internet, meet Tom! I met this man after knocking on his door and asking if he had anything to drink. Without hesitation, he went inside and brought me a Dr. Pepper. What I didn’t know at the time was that this same man had spent years serving his community as a firefighter. He told me he injured his shoulder in the line of duty while helping pull someone from a serious car accident. He shared that the driver tragically passed away, but his team was able to save the passenger. Since then, life has become incredibly difficult for him and his family. He says his shoulder surgery and injury support were denied, and he has had to pay out of pocket while continuing to fight for his pension and the support he believes he deserves. Because of the injury and everything that followed, he has not been able to work the way he once did. The hardest part is what this has done to his family. He is a father of five. He shared that they had to sell their house, and that he feels like he has missed so much time with his children because of everything they have been going through. Even after all of this, when I gave him a little money, his first response was that he would pay it forward. That showed me exactly who he is. This is a man who spent his life helping others. He helped a stranger at his door. He served his city. He helped save someone’s life. And even while struggling, he still wants to help someone else. Now it is our turn to help him and his family. The money raised will go toward helping him and his family with basic needs, housing stability, groceries, bills, medical-related expenses, transportation, and giving his children more security while he continues fighting to rebuild his life. Every donation, no matter the size, helps. If you cannot donate, please consider sharing this. Sometimes sharing is what reaches the person who can help. Let’s come together for a man who fought for others when they needed him. Now let’s fight for him.

No mother should have to choose between paying medical bills or keeping the vehicle that gets her child to life-saving care. Xavier is battling a rare lung disease that requires him to be on oxygen for up to 16 hours a day. Every single day is a fight just to breathe. His mom has been doing absolutely everything she can to keep going, but the weight of medical expenses, missed work, and everyday bills has become overwhelming. Now, she’s facing another devastating reality: she’s about to lose her vehicle. The car she depends on to bring Xavier to doctor appointments, treatments, pharmacy visits, and emergencies could be repossessed very soon because she has fallen behind on payments while trying to keep up with the endless costs of caring for her son. She’s terrified.Terrified of how she’ll transport Xavier.Terrified of how she’ll continue getting him the care he needs.Terrified because she feels like she’s running out of options. This fundraiser is to help relieve some of that pressure before everything spirals even further. The money raised will go toward:• Catching up on vehicle payments to prevent repossession• Medical bills and ongoing care for Xavier• Oxygen-related expenses and transportation costs• Helping this family regain stability during an incredibly difficult time Xavier deserves the chance to keep fighting. His mom deserves the chance to breathe, too. If you’re able to donate, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And if you can’t, simply sharing this fundraiser could help reach someone who can. Let’s come together and remind this family they are not alone.

Natasha is a single mom doing everything she can to take care of her son, Keegan. Keegan lives with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, scoliosis, and several other serious conditions. Every day is a challenge, but through it all, Natasha is right there beside him, caring for him full time and making sure he never feels alone. Right now, even the basics are hard. Their van, the one they depend on to get to medical appointments and simply get out of the house, is falling apart. It is rusted, unsafe, and held together with duct tape. But Keegan loves getting out. Going for drives is one of the few things that brings him joy. And Natasha refuses to take that away from him. On top of everything, Natasha is also dealing with serious health issues of her own. She lives in constant pain, but like so many parents, she puts her child first and keeps going no matter what. When asked what she wants most, her answer was simple. A reliable, accessible van… and one day, to take Keegan to see the ocean. That is it. No big ask. No luxury. Just a mom who wants her son to be comfortable, safe, and happy. We have the opportunity to come together and change their lives. To give Keegan more freedom, more comfort, and more moments of joy. To give Natasha relief and the reminder that she is not alone in this fight. If you have ever loved someone enough to put them before yourself, you understand what she is doing every single day. Let’s help them. Every donation, every share, every bit of support brings them one step closer to a safer life and a dream that finally feels possible. With Natasha's permission, funds will be delivered to an account managed by attorney, Eric Mead. Let’s make this wish come true.

At 81 years old, Shirley is doing everything she can just to get by. After losing her husband two years ago, she’s been navigating life alone. She lives in a small apartment, paying around $1,600 a month in rent, and relies on social security. After bills, she’s left with about $300 to cover everything else… groceries, gas, utilities, and basic necessities. Some months, she has to skip things just to make it through. But despite everything she’s going through, Shirley still shows kindness to everyone she meets. She smiles at strangers, talks to people at the bus stop, and does her best to make other people’s days brighter… even when life is hard for her. When I met her, she asked for help with something small. What stood out wasn’t her situation, it was her heart. She doesn’t want anything extravagant. Her dream is simple… just to feel stable and not have to worry every single month. This fundraiser is to give Shirley peace of mind. To help her cover everyday expenses, build a small safety net, and finally breathe a little easier. If you’re able to help, even a small amount can make a real difference. Let’s come together and show Shirley the same kindness she shows the world every single day.