Helping the Lemus Family Secure their Home

Dear friends and community,

My name is Zach Takahashi and I'm reaching out to ask for your consideration on behalf of the Lemus family who are experiencing a challenging start to the new year of 2024 facing eviction from their apartment home due to financial hardship at the end of January.

Both Kevin and Areli supported their living as full-time working parents, but due to unsustainable costs of childcare, Areli took a year off from work to care for the boys Isaiah and Elijah as a stay at home mom. Kevin worked tirelessly to provide for the family to make ends meet, sometimes working 16 hours a day. However, the lack of a dual income eventually caught up; with mounting bills, school tuition for the boys, the car payment, etc., the Lemus family found themselves unable to make their monthly payments for their residence. Even as Areli has now started a part-time job at her son's school, the combined income of both herself and Kevin is still not enough.

In an effort to stretch their finances and retain their home, Kevin and Areli made an effort to talk to the office, but were rebuffed and their appeal rejected. The Lemus family has received free legal counsel who have said their best option is to leave the property and pay for what is owed, including the property legal fees. Your donation will help in the following ways:

1. Daily Living Support: Ensuring their daily well-being is a continuous challenge. This includes the crucial support they need for tasks we often take for granted, such as dressing, meals, and personal care. Your support ensures that their daily needs are met, allowing them to experience a life of comfort and fulfillment.

2. Future Planning: We aim to secure the future of the Lemus family, especially in consideration for their children, Isaiah and Elijah. Your donation will help create a financial cushion that will provide for their long-term care and well-being.

3. Safety and Housing: As we enter into the winter season, residence becomes critical to ensure the well-being and safety of a family. To reduce the financial burden and stress when searching for residence, we want to ensure that the Lemus family will have the means to seek a new home as they transition.

4. Relieving Financial Burden: Even after their eviction, Kevin and Areli will still need to pay what is owed, including legal fees of the property. To prevent the occurrence of being evicted a second time, your donation will help Kevin and Areli to cover the costs of what is owed and put them at ease when they find their second home knowing that they can keep a roof over their heads that allow Isaiah and Elijah to sleep in safety and comfort.

Gofundme exists as a community to empower, uplift and most importantly, give hope to those whose needs and circumstances outweigh ours in the present. We hold the power to make a profound impact on their lives and have launched this fundraiser in support of Areli, Kevin, and their children Isaiah and Elijah. Your generosity will not only provide immediate financial relief, but also empower Kevin and Areli to navigate their continued journey as husband and wife, father and mother, to care for their children in confidence and hope.

To those who identify as members of our community at Refuge Church: I invite you to practice our values of Gospel Centrality, Sacrificial Service and Unconditional Friendship in giving to the Lemus family in their time of need. As a church and community, we are called to not only be a refuge for those who have yet joined or found us, but to shelter, provide and protect those who have found refuge and call Refuge their home.

Together, we can make a lasting impact on their lives that will surely bless them and you. Your acts of kindness and generosity hold immeasurable significance, and we wholeheartedly appreciate your forthcoming support.

With heartfelt gratitude,

From the Lemus' friends and supportive family.