Urgently Needed - Disabled Veteran And Family Need Your Help

Hi, my name is Ricky Paugh. I live in Jane Lew with my wife of 16 years and our two kids. I am a 100% service-connected disabled veteran in need of emergency financial help at once.

On Friday, November 1, 2024, I went to our bank and withdrew my VA disability to pay our monthly expenses and get the groceries for our family Thanksgiving dinner. I had the money with me in a bank envelope while I went to pay bills. I went into the county courthouse and when I got to the office the bank envelope with every dollar that I had to take care of my family for the month was gone. I searched the streets even the trash cans, went door to door talking to people, had people look at their security cameras, and the courthouse security look at the cameras hoping and praying I could see where it fell out of my pocket so I could hurry and get it before it disappeared again. Unfortunately, none of the cameras that I was able to view had the answers I so desperately needed. I called the bank and the Sheriff's department to see if the money was turned it in, but they did not have anything.

The outpouring of prayers and the willingness of complete strangers willing to take time out of their own priorities to try to help us has been utterly amazing and words will never be able to express our sincere gratitude. When my wife posted on the county's announcements page all we were asking for was that whoever found the money to just return it and that would be the end of it, but still no money. Everyone that commented said they were more than willing to donate to our GoFundMe. The thought of doing that had not even crossed our minds. We talked about doing this because we did not want to ask for help when there are so many that are in worse situations than this. At the end of the day our priority has and always will be to take care of our kids and making sure they have everything they need, to do that we knew that we had to ask for help. We appreciate any help that you can provide, whether monetarily or helping to share our story. The money that we receive from here will go to our expenses, caring for our kids and Thanksgiving dinner.

My family and I thank everyone for the outpouring of love, care and support you have shown us.