Helping Ray
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PLEASE HELP ME HELP MY FRIEND RAY.
My name is Vic Pepe - I live in Texas. I met Ray 30+ years ago when I lived in NJ - he is a dear friend. Ray walks with crutches and has been doing so since severe rheumatoid arthritis fused his spine and many of his joints at the age of 15. He is now 58. He has never complained!
When I met Ray it took only 2 minutes to forget about the crutches. No one saw him as handicapped. He didn't see himself that way either. He did everything anyone else did. He just knocked in to a few tables along the way :-)
My friends and I fell in love with Ray - and that love and caring for him remains to this day. Ray was the guy who should have been complaining the most - yet he complained the least. Ray was the guy who should have been angry at the world - but he enjoys the simple things that life has to offer. Ray has a huge personality - but it's been buried by some unfortunate life circumstances.
In the last 10 years Ray has had a tough run. He lives in Northern Florida and I in Texas. We speak frequently, but I hadn't seen him in a long time. He'd call from time to time and only as a last resort would he ever ask for help. I’ve helped him regularly over the years and out of numerous tough spots, but he needs far more help. He's a proud guy and needs to feel self-sufficient. He always has.
As time went on Ray lost a little spring in his step and had a bad run with an employer who damaged him mentally and emotionally. Ray now lives as a 100% disabled individual. Ray lives his entire life on $1,233 per month provided by the good old US government. After all critical expenses he’s left with $18 per day for food, clothing, toiletries, and emergencies.
We recently applied to a Food Assistance Program in his home state and he was approved for $16 per month. Yes take that in.. $16 per month. Believe it or not - Ray was grateful and told me "when you are hungry, $16 is like hitting the lottery".
Life has taken a drastic toll on his physical and emotional health. He’s a shell of the person I met some 30 years ago.
Deep down Ray is a strong guy, funny, kind hearted, and most importantly, I know his potential. He's capable of so much more! He needs a massive action plan put in place infused by enough capital to get him out on the other side. Simply put - HE NEEDS OUR SUPPORT!
Ray needs a lot of help:
1. He needs a car - his died and is beyond repair.
2. His teeth are in really bad shape - he needs dentures.
3. His house is in a grave state - it needs significant work to be reasonably habitable.
4. He needs assistance in getting his health in order. This includes nutrition and re-establishing a routine with numerous doctors.
5. He needs his medication stabilized and a regular supply made available.
6. He needs food!
7. He needs a cash reserve to hold him until he can earn some money regularly on his own.
RAY DOES NOT HAVE A DRUG PROBLEM! HE IS NOT A DRINKER!
The ultimate goal is to prop up Ray enough to give him a fighting chance at becoming self sufficient again.
With the right physical health and life conditions, Ray is going to knock it out of the park!
Having a reliable car will open his world. He will sign up as an UBER driver - but health, wellness, and living conditions are the certain first steps.
PLEASE HELP ME GET RAY BACK TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE HE DESERVES!
He is capable - he just needs a reset. He needs support from those who can help.
As the saying goes - "It takes a village" A village it will indeed!
With your generous assistance, I am going to spearhead operation "Friend-In-Need" and get Ray back on the road to health and self sufficiency. His journey is not done - not even close.
I will be making periodic withdrawals to cover the expenses of the things we are purchasing for him. In most cases, I am advancing the money so that we can get things moving asap! I am as well contributing my own personal funds for numerous expenses - I just don't add it to the GoFundMe to avoid unnecessary credit card processing fees.
Ray has asked that I manage the funds on his behalf - he said he's never had this kind of money and wants to be sure its managed well.
A full accounting of all monies received and spent (along with pictures of the progress) will be posted here:
https://www.helpingray.org
Please help me help my friend Ray - He is worth it, I guarantee it!
--
Vic
My name is Vic Pepe - I live in Texas. I met Ray 30+ years ago when I lived in NJ - he is a dear friend. Ray walks with crutches and has been doing so since severe rheumatoid arthritis fused his spine and many of his joints at the age of 15. He is now 58. He has never complained!
When I met Ray it took only 2 minutes to forget about the crutches. No one saw him as handicapped. He didn't see himself that way either. He did everything anyone else did. He just knocked in to a few tables along the way :-)
My friends and I fell in love with Ray - and that love and caring for him remains to this day. Ray was the guy who should have been complaining the most - yet he complained the least. Ray was the guy who should have been angry at the world - but he enjoys the simple things that life has to offer. Ray has a huge personality - but it's been buried by some unfortunate life circumstances.
In the last 10 years Ray has had a tough run. He lives in Northern Florida and I in Texas. We speak frequently, but I hadn't seen him in a long time. He'd call from time to time and only as a last resort would he ever ask for help. I’ve helped him regularly over the years and out of numerous tough spots, but he needs far more help. He's a proud guy and needs to feel self-sufficient. He always has.
As time went on Ray lost a little spring in his step and had a bad run with an employer who damaged him mentally and emotionally. Ray now lives as a 100% disabled individual. Ray lives his entire life on $1,233 per month provided by the good old US government. After all critical expenses he’s left with $18 per day for food, clothing, toiletries, and emergencies.
We recently applied to a Food Assistance Program in his home state and he was approved for $16 per month. Yes take that in.. $16 per month. Believe it or not - Ray was grateful and told me "when you are hungry, $16 is like hitting the lottery".
Life has taken a drastic toll on his physical and emotional health. He’s a shell of the person I met some 30 years ago.
Deep down Ray is a strong guy, funny, kind hearted, and most importantly, I know his potential. He's capable of so much more! He needs a massive action plan put in place infused by enough capital to get him out on the other side. Simply put - HE NEEDS OUR SUPPORT!
Ray needs a lot of help:
1. He needs a car - his died and is beyond repair.
2. His teeth are in really bad shape - he needs dentures.
3. His house is in a grave state - it needs significant work to be reasonably habitable.
4. He needs assistance in getting his health in order. This includes nutrition and re-establishing a routine with numerous doctors.
5. He needs his medication stabilized and a regular supply made available.
6. He needs food!
7. He needs a cash reserve to hold him until he can earn some money regularly on his own.
RAY DOES NOT HAVE A DRUG PROBLEM! HE IS NOT A DRINKER!
The ultimate goal is to prop up Ray enough to give him a fighting chance at becoming self sufficient again.
With the right physical health and life conditions, Ray is going to knock it out of the park!
Having a reliable car will open his world. He will sign up as an UBER driver - but health, wellness, and living conditions are the certain first steps.
PLEASE HELP ME GET RAY BACK TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE HE DESERVES!
He is capable - he just needs a reset. He needs support from those who can help.
As the saying goes - "It takes a village" A village it will indeed!
With your generous assistance, I am going to spearhead operation "Friend-In-Need" and get Ray back on the road to health and self sufficiency. His journey is not done - not even close.
I will be making periodic withdrawals to cover the expenses of the things we are purchasing for him. In most cases, I am advancing the money so that we can get things moving asap! I am as well contributing my own personal funds for numerous expenses - I just don't add it to the GoFundMe to avoid unnecessary credit card processing fees.
Ray has asked that I manage the funds on his behalf - he said he's never had this kind of money and wants to be sure its managed well.
A full accounting of all monies received and spent (along with pictures of the progress) will be posted here:
https://www.helpingray.org
Please help me help my friend Ray - He is worth it, I guarantee it!
--
Vic
Organizer
Vic Pepe
Organizer
Southlake, TX