Dear Johnny –

I’m writing you a letter because my family and I have a situation and I am at my wits end looking for a way to fix it. My mother, Rhonda, has lived in Belton, Missouri with my grandfather for over 13 years helping as his caretaker (lung cancer).

My grandfather passed away in October. He owns the trailer that they were living in and I made a promise to him before he passed away, and it’s the one thing he worried about the most, was that my mom would be okay so I told him no matter what she’ll never lose her home.

My mom is 66 and a retired waitress living on a social security budget. Most of my lifetime she was working 2 or 3 jobs at a time. In November of this year, there was some sort of glitch and she didn’t receive her benefit on the third Wednesday.

Therefore, she was not able to pay her lot rent. I called the social security offices to find out about the issue and they told me they were working on it. Now my mother is in her second month of not being able to cover the rent.

The trailer park had been working with her, but recently she has received an eviction notice that she has 10 days to come up with $1,651 for rent and late fees. We went to the office and tried to explain the situation and they said her extension runs until December 10th.

Like I said, my grandfather and mom have lived there for 13 years and have always had the rent paid, but this setback is something I never expected and it’s completely out of my mother’s control. I have since spoken to the social security office and they assure me she will receive her check in January, but it’s just too late. I’m scared that she will be evicted on Friday and they will take property of the trailer.

I just want to fulfill the promise I made to my grandfather before he passed and I just didn’t know what else to do. Thank you for reading my letter and for all that you do for people around the holidays. – Kimberly 

Who Helped: Manfred, Jarod, Jim, Glen, "Mister X" and Consentino's

How You Helped: Lot fees and rent, electric bill and groceries

Ol' Santa? He cares if you've been naughty or nice!
Us? We're only interested you naughty types!

Bros and Ho Ho Hoes, it's THE ADULT TOY PRICE IS RIGHT, brought to you by Moonlight Adult Boutique!!!

Dear Johnny –

My family and I really need some help. In late July 2021, I was in a terrible auto accident that totaled my vehicle. I had my 4 year old son with me riding in his booster seat.

My son was injured during the accident with a broken jaw and a spleen bleed. He ended up having to have his mouth wired shut from late July through September 22, 2021.

During surgery he also had to have a steel plate put in his jaw. My husband and I both work, but he had to take time off work to care for him.

We have 4 kids and it really takes both of us working to keep up on bills.

Our son had to be tube fed, since his jaw was wired shut and we couldn’t afford an at home nurse to help out ($30 an hour).

We are struggling. We were able to get another car, but we are currently late on the payment.

I also have a disconnect notice on my electric bill and just don’t know how we will do Christmas. Between copays and lost wages we just can’t seem to keep our head above water. My kids are 4, 6, 10 and 13.

My kids are so excited for Christmas and I don’t have the heart to tell them that we’re struggling. Our son went through so much with his surgeries from the wreck and has a permanent slant to his mouth and damage to his lip that needed 36 stitches.

I try very hard to hide all of this from the children and keep a smile on my face, but sometimes I find myself in the bathroom crying.

My husband and I are both hard working people and we’ve never been in this spot. Some days I feel like we could lose everything.

Thank you for reading our letter and I’m grateful for all you guys do. Happy Holidays – Deanna

Who Helped: Casey, Shane, Taylor, Catherine, Dustin, Andrew and Consentino's
How You Helped: Caught up on car payment, paid electric bill, plus Christmas for the kids and groceries!

Dear Johnny –

I am reaching out to you for my sister, Christina, who has had a recent tragedy.

She has worked for the KC fire department for the last 25 years. This past weekend her house caught fire and is a total loss.

At this time, she and her family are living with her daughter and son-in-law, along
with her son, husband and grandkids. She is at total loss as to what to do even though she does this for a living. It’s been such a shock to the family and it’s never hit this hard at home. Even though insurance will take care of most things, it’s a process that takes time and they have needs that are immediate.

She is such an incredible sister and she just needs help right now. She has helped so
many people in her career and she is the oldest of 7 kids and she takes care of us all. She and her husband are continuing to work in the middle of all of this and they have a 13 year old son. She is lost and overwhelmed with everything going on and very prideful about having to take help from others. It’s hard to see her go through this, but I know they need clothes, shoes, coats, hygiene products, groceries. All of the basics you would need when starting over. It’s just such a tough time right here at the holidays and just want her and her family to be okay. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and if you need any more information, just please let me know.

Sincerely, Rebecca

Who Helped: Amish Adam, Lisa, Jesse, Steve, James, Big Eric, Rich, Chelsea and Consentino's.
How They Helped: Gift cards to help replace clothes, uniforms and essentials lost in the fire, plus groceries.

Dear Johnny –

I’m writing to you because our family has had a rough year and we need help.

This year in late July I was diagnosed with covid. By the weekend, I was hospitalized after my oxygen kept dropping into the low 80’s.

After a week into my hospital stay I had developed covid pneumonia and
my oxygen was dropping into the 70’s. Doctor’s made the decision to put me on a ventilator.

I was on the ventilator for over 2 weeks and every day the doctor wasn’t sure whether I was going to make it or not. The doctor finally made a decision that it was time to get off the ventilator and do a tracheotomy and start a feeding tube. That started to work and I was finally improving.

After 67 days in the hospital I now had a long road. I had to learn how to walk, talk, eat, and breathe again. I was also losing about 90% of my hair. I’m still on the road to recovery. I’m still on oxygen. But, I’m hoping to go back to work after the first of the year.

I know it has put a strain on my family and we are falling behind on bills. Using the oxygen machine at our home has made our energy bill go up to over
$600. I just want to get back to normal and my family to have a good holiday after these past several scary months.

Thank you for all you do for families and thank you for taking the time to read my
letter.

Merry Christmas – Marty

Who helped: Dwight, Tom, Lonnie, Andrew, Rick and Consentino's

How you helped: 2 months of rent, 2 months of electric bills, Christmas for the kids and groceries!