Help us raise funds for the Schafer Family

Their Story:

Jonny and Jessi Schafer have three children: Lincoln (6), Walter (4), and Jane (9 months). Lincoln and Walter have both been diagnosed with autism. If you have spent any time with Jonny and Jessi, you know how inspirational it is to be around them and see the care and dedication they show towards their children. That being said, the challenges this presents for Jonny and Jessi have been enormous.

A few years ago, they bought a house in the country to provide the kids a safe opportunity to play outside and be active in a way that helps regulate the more severe symptoms they experience. One being “eloping” which is where they are not very aware of danger and they can wander off easily. This has been very helpful, as this is very positive stimulation for Lincoln and Walter and a way they can spend ample amounts of time outside without Jessi having to try to take the kids to other places alone.

When they first moved into the house, there were many updates that had to be made to make it a safe and comfortable environment to fit the many needs of the family. They are still working on getting additional help in the home but as of now, it’s just Jonny and Jessi. The boys are both considered nonverbal, communicating wants, even needs is difficult for them which can make it hard to accomplish even simple day to day responsibilities and tasks for them.

They have also had to pay up to $500.00 a month for the boy’s nutritional supplements that insurance won’t cover. They have tried going off of the supplements because of how expensive it is, but the boys noticeably regressed without the suppliements. This has also been the case for keeping them on a strict diet which has led to more expensive grocery bills.

Because of the boys’ high care needs, Jessi is unable to work outside of the home. Jonny works very hard in a manual labor job, but he often has to take time off of work to help care for the boys, as well.

All of this has led to a very difficult financial situation for them. They have incurred significant debt to pay for the supplements as well as several house fixes to make their house safe for their boys.

The financial situation has become unsustainable, and so Jonny and Jessi have recently made the tough decision to sell their house to help get out of debt. While financially they believe this is the choice they need to make to set their family up for a sustainable financial future, it is a really heartbreaking choice because of how well the house is set up for Lincoln and Walter. It will also require them to rent - likely in an apartment or house - for a period of time to pay off their debt and save for a down payment for a new home.

We would love to see Jonny and Jessi have the community come around them and support them during this challenging time. The sacrifice, service, and love they provide to their boys every single day, now while also raising their new baby girl, is simply incredible. And we want to remind them they are not in this alone.

We are asking for donations of a goal of $50,000. This amount will help them pay off most of their debt so they can continue to support their boys. They may still choose to sell the house to make their life more financially sustainable in the future, but whether this money helps them keep their house, or simply helps provide them some breathing room as they cover their boys’ many expenses, we know this will be a huge blessing to them. We are so grateful for this community and appreciate any donations! It's a blessing for them both to know they are supported in this and not alone, so feel free to list your names when you give! If you are able, we would also greatly appreciate it if you share this post on your social media platforms!