Help Joe Matthews Get Back on His Feet

Joe Matthews — our friend, our brother, our “Mayor” of the Maryland Athletic Club — has always been the heart of our little community. Whether it was through a kind word, a funny reel, or just his magnetic, infectious smile, Joe has kept our crew connected through the years with nothing but love, loyalty, and laughter.

Joe is a proud father of three beautiful kids and someone who’s poured his energy into building a better life for them. He found his stride working as a DOT driver, and within no time, he rose into a role training and mentoring new hires around safety and procedures — a perfect fit for someone who naturally lifts up everyone around him.

But life took an unexpected turn on September 23rd, when Joe suffered a seizure while on the job. Extensive testing later confirmed it was stress-induced, and while the diagnosis brought answers, it also brought new challenges. Joe was put on lifelong medication that ultimately disqualified him from returning to his driving position.

Since then, Joe has been fighting to stay afloat — working odd jobs, leaf blowing, shoveling snow, doing whatever he could to make ends meet. He kept believing that he’d be back behind the wheel soon. That belief helped him push through to the end of last year, but as time went on, the bills piled up.

By early this year, Joe had fallen behind on months months of rent and car payments. Then, two weeks ago, he was at fault for a car accident that came with a $1,000 deductible — and no cushion left to cover it. The car is critical not just for getting around but for doing landscaping work, especially with the busy season coming up.

I was only yesterday (6 months in), that Joe did what many of us would struggle to do — he asked for help.

There’s a glimmer of hope: Joe starts an overnight job at Hopkins next week. It’s a fresh start. But he needs a little help to get there — to clear the roadblocks and catch his breath after months of trying to handle it all on his own.

Here’s Where We Come In:

If Joe has ever made you laugh, inspired you, or just brightened your day — now’s the time to return the light he’s always given so freely. Every dollar helps. Every share helps. Every act of support lifts a man who has spent his life lifting others.

Let’s come together and give Joe and his family the stability they need so he can walk into that new job with dignity, hope, and a fresh start.

Thank you for considering. Thank you for caring. And thank you for showing Joe he’s not alone.