Matt Troup

My fiancé Randi and I moved from Ohio to Tennessee hoping for a fresh start together. We packed up everything we could take and took a Greyhound bus to Nashville, trusting an old friend who promised me a job and a place to stay. Throughout the journey, he assured us he would pick us up at the bus station, but after hours of waiting, he never showed up and stopped answering his phone. Suddenly, we found ourselves stranded in a new city with only our limited savings and a few possessions. Since then, we've been living out of hotels, doing gig work wherever we can to get by. Leaving most of our belongings behind or giving them away before the move has completely drained us. Now, we're struggling day to day and are on the verge of being on the street with nowhere to go. We desperately need a little kindness to help us through until our tax return comes in, which has been delayed due to IRS staffing shortages. Any funds raised will go toward hotel stays, food, and basic necessities. We really don't want to be forced into a shelter and be split up, as we can't find any that are coed. Randi and I have been together for almost 11 years, and the thought of being separated in different parts of Nashville is heartbreaking. We've always been the ones to help others when they're down, never asking for anything in return. Now, we're hoping for a little support to make it through the next week or two. Any generosity will be paid forward, and your kindness will mean the world to us.