Teacher forced to retire due to health

Hello all and thank you for taking the time to read this plea. Al and Beth McNiell are long time residents of Stoughton, MA and raised three daughters, Kate, Sara, and Maggie. Tragedy struck the family early with the loss of Sara due to a brain aneurysm at age 15. Any parent will tell you that the loss of a child is the most devastating event that anyone can imagine.

Both Beth and Al channeled their energy and grief into helping others who have experienced a devastating loss of a child,sibling, or loved one by starting the Childrens Room. Over the years,they have supported countless families like theirs in the process of continuing life when hope was at its lowest.

Both Beth and Al have spent their lives in service to other as educators. Beth worked as an after school care worker for many years. Al has been an English teacher and English Department Chair for more than forty years. He worked at Cathedral High School and Framingham High School where he started a program called Step Up To Excellence for underserved youth. He then went to Fall River followed by Fairhaven, and is now is an English Teacher at New Heights School in Brockton. Between the two of them, they have taught, counseled, parented, loved, advised, and assisted hundreds of thousands of students. Both of them were close to retirement when the newest tragedy hit.

Over the past few years, Beth’s health has declined and it has forced her to stop working. In order for Al to continue to work, he has employed health care workers during the week as Beth needs constant care. Their older daughter Kate lives in England with her family and have worked with Al to put a plan together to eventually move to England and assist with Beth’s care.

Which brings us to the ask. They are in desperate need of assistance right now to make this a reality. Due to the most recent decline in Beth’s health, Al is forced to retire earlier than he had hoped. Health care bills are piling up and is putting this plan in dire jeopardy. We are asking that everyone who has been fortunate to have been helped along this thing called life by these two amazing selfless individuals to give back.

In our lives, there are people we call family that we are born into. Then there are people we call “kin”…people who we would have as family if we had a chance. The McNeills are our kin and they need our help! Please give what you can!