PLEASE MEET TINA AND PAUL:
The voice on the other end of the phone said, "Hey, it's Tina and Paul! Do you remember us?
"Of course I remember you, how could I not!" I remembered mostly cuz they are honestly so beautiful together! Two years ago FH helped them get into a hotel during a particularly hard time. They had been living in their car while Paul worked nights in a produce warehouse. At that moment in time they were both extremely exhausted and needed some rest and care to keep it together.
Tina shared how grateful she was for that help, how it made a big difference for them. She went on to say that they were still living in their car but that things had taken a turn for the worse, that Paul woke up one morning and couldn't move for 5 days. After lab testing he learned he had Stage 3 Kidney Disease. Paul was carrying them financially. Tina is a chef but was out of work due to a painfully needed hip replacement.
They get $500 a month assistance which covers their $425 car payment, which is also their home. The left over amount is for gas. Food comes from Food Banks and offered dinners.
They'd been juggling it all till last month missing the car payment, which now has its ignition locked. They are in danger of losing it. They are freaked out. It's all they have.
As I stood with them at the bus stop in front of the downtown library, listening to the worry in their voice, watching Tina shiver cuz it was so cold, I felt keenly sensitive to what they were going through. It was easy to connect the dots of how close we all are to being in need, to having to ask for help. How COVID-19 has made that so abundantly clear.
Paul & Tina have till Wednesday to make payment or lose their car/home. I am hoping we can raise the $425 owed.
UPDATE: The Paypal link has been pulled in that the goal of raising $425 has been met with $947.54 donated, wowWOW!!! I know this will mean the world to them right now. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!!! All funds will go to the car payment with left over for gas-cards. No funds go directly to Tina&Paul and no funds go to Facing Homelessness. A heartfelt THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paul and Tina have been together for 8 years. I asked if they LOVE each other. They both looked at each other and smiled big, Paul said, "Yes, for sure! There are of course ups and downs, but we need each other bad." Tina then added with another smile, "and we are best friends through it all."
Kent Neighborhood | Rex
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#JustSayHello #Kindness #FacingHomelessness Crosscut KING 5