Support Our Friend Sergio Through A Critical Time

Dear Friends, Family, and Community,

Our friend Sergio urgently needs our help. The pandemic has hit many of us hard, but for Sergio, it has become a life-threatening crisis. He faces the risk of losing his home, his belongings, and crucial medical care.

I know Sergio from our poetry days in NYC, particularly in Brooklyn. As we both navigated our post-pandemic struggles, I learned about his dire situation and felt compelled to act. With his permission, I’m reaching out through this GoFundMe to share his story and rally support.

The Situation:

Sergio has always been a fighter, using his passion for philosophy and poetry to manage his mental health. However, the pandemic has struck him with relentless hardships. Last year, he lost his housing and his beloved cat, nearly ending up in the shelter system.

Though he began to recover, recent setbacks have been severe. A sharp decline in his physical health cost him his job, leaving him out of savings and financial support. By the end of this month, without your help, Sergio will lose his home, his belongings, and access to the medical care he desperately needs to recover.

A Glimpse into Sergio’s Past Vibrancy:

In 2018, we celebrated Sergio’s 35th birthday at Gamba Forest in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The event was a vibrant gathering of friends and family, including Sergio’s mother, old friends from his church and college, and fellow poets from across NYC. We enjoyed homemade food, Negronis—Sergio’s favorite—and a performance of his philosophical poems. The night was a testament to the deep connections and joy we had shared.

Today, the contrast with that vibrant celebration is stark. The pandemic has reshaped lives, leaving many, including Sergio, facing severe challenges. This glimpse into his past illustrates how he once actively contributed to his community despite his executive dysfunction. It highlights the crucial role your support plays in his journey towards recovery. Your help can bridge the gap between his past vitality and current struggles, enabling him to once again be a positive force in our communities.

Sergio’s Journey Before and During the Pandemic:

Before the pandemic, Sergio led a vibrant life. As a teacher, preacher, and later president of his college philosophy club, he was dedicated to learning and helping others. His excellence earned him a prestigious fellowship at Hunter College, despite being undocumented. After college, he worked as a Spanish-English interpreter and an immigration paralegal, and became a beloved figure in the NYC poetry scene, touching many lives with his performances and insights.

The pandemic brought devastating changes. Sergio lost his job, his access to psychiatric care and ADHD medication, leading to severe withdrawal symptoms and exhaustion. This spiraled into debilitating depression and isolation from his community. Compounded by deteriorating physical health, including a chronic gastrointestinal disease and dangerous blood clotting tendencies, Sergio faced overwhelming struggles and lost his housing.

Recent Progress and Setbacks:

Last year, Sergio began to rebuild his life with the help of a friend, avoiding the shelter system and securing both housing and a job. However, in July, severe health issues forced him to miss work, resulting in job loss and leaving him without savings. Now, he struggles with basic necessities and continues his recovery.

What Your Support Will Accomplish

Your contributions will ensure Sergio can maintain his housing, access food and medical care, and cover essential bills through September and October.

Sergio’s most urgent expenses for the next two months include:

Rent and storage unit

Medication and psychiatric copays

Cellphone

Food

Transportation, laundry, and job search needs

These can come up to $4,500-5000.

This support will provide Sergio with the stability to continue applying for jobs and rebuilding his life.

Sergio is hopeful that, with your help, he can return to making meaningful contributions to our community. He plans to channel his passions into a project blending philosophy, psychology, and biology to advance understanding of mental health and its ethical and political implications.

Thank you for considering this vital support. Your generosity will make a significant difference in Sergio’s life and in the lives he touches. Please donate and share this campaign to help us bridge the gap between his past and present.