The Bridge

The family of four is made up of Mom, and three kids, one of who has considerable special needs. Mom has been asked to leave the home with grandmother and is living in a hotel. She would benefit from any supports needed to set up home with her kids.

62197941-A dedicated and loving caregiver who has taken on the challenge of raising two children, ages 10 and 7, sought help from OhioKAN to address urgent repairs in their home to ensure a safer environment for the children and the entire family. The caregiver applied for two local home improvement grants. Unfortunately, one was denied, while the other remains under review. While she never expected to resume raising young children, our caregiver has embraced her new role wholeheartedly, demonstrating remarkable strength and resilience. Traditionally, the family has taken pride in their ability to care for each other and manage household expenses. However, with her husband’s retirement leading to a significant reduction in their income and our caregiver currently unable to work, they are facing financial constraints. They would be immensely grateful for any assistance in replacing and/or installing exterior and interior doors, which would greatly enhance safety and stability in their home. The family would be grateful for any assistance they could receive.

62231414-A compassionate and devoted family has opened their hearts and home to care for their two young cousins, ages 10 and 11, in addition to raising their two biological children. One of the children placed with them has some behavioral challenges, but the family has worked hard to secure the appropriate help and support for the child.

This family is doing their absolute best to provide for all four children, but recently lost the financial assistance they were receiving for the two cousins, making it difficult to meet basic needs. Despite the hardship, they remain committed to creating a stable and loving environment for every child in their care.

Currently, the family is in urgent need of home repairs, including: A broken back door with deteriorating edges Cracking siding on the home A leaking main shower and a children’s shower that is also leaking and missing tiles A broken garage door opener A damaged window Concerns with their well water system, which was recently repaired but may still need work

In addition to the repairs, the family is struggling with food insecurity due to the increase in household size. The main caregiver is scheduled to undergo surgery soon, which will temporarily reduce the family to a single income, adding more strain to their situation.

The family is in need of Grocery gift cards & Home repairs

Any help offered to this family during this difficult time would be deeply appreciated. Thank you for your consideration and generosity.

Transportation is something many of us rely on every day, but for a grandmother in Muskingum County who is caring for her grandson, it has become a challenge. As a kinship caregiver, she’s doing her best to care for her grandson, but her vehicle’s tires are in need of replacement, which makes it harder for them to get to important doctor’s appointments and maintain their daily routines. Unfortunately, due to being on a fixed income, the cost of the repairs, which amounts to $700, is more than she can manage right now. Any help to ensure they have safe, reliable transportation would be deeply appreciated.

A mom fell behind of daycare costs. She got the price reduced at the daycare but she owes what she was behind before her child can go back. If her son can't go to daycare she can not work. Times are hard and everyone is doing the best they can. This mom is asking for a little support so she can keep her home and job to take the best care of her child. Any help is appreciated.

A 20 year old went to court to take custody of their two siblings, 7 and 15, in 2023 due to their parents' struggle with substance abuse. Their siblings safety and well being were at risk, and they stepped in to provide them with stability and the care they needed. They have struggled financially but have been getting by. The 20 year had a stable job that they thought would be long term. So once they got custody of their siblings they used their savings to get ahead on bills and buying necessary household items for them all. Unfortunately, they lost that job and had some medical issues. Despite the setbacks, they have been working for DoorDash and UberEats while looking for a new job to keep an income in the house. They just recently got a warehouse job with a consistent schedule and weekly pay. Since losing their job they are just a little behind on rent and asking for help to catch up so these siblings can stay together and not lose their housing. They will be able to keep up their rent moving forward with this new job. Any support would be greatly appreciated.

A Muskingum County grandmother, who lovingly cares for her grandchild, is currently facing a challenging situation beyond her control. The caregiver has worked diligently to maintain a safe and healthy environment for her and her grandchild. Due to the health challenges that the caregiver faces, she must seek the help of a professional extermination company that offers solutions that are safe to use around her medical equipment. The caregiver has made a payment of $106 towards the cost, however the remaining amount of $590.95 is beyond her current financial means. Any assistance would go a long way in helping her restore a clean, safe space for her and her grandchild.

I’m reaching out with an urgent request on behalf of a devoted grandmother who has just received emergency custody of her two grandchildren. They are currently in another state on the West Coast, and she now faces the difficult task of bringing them home.

One of the children has paraplegia, making travel even more complex. The grandmother must fly out to them, then rent a wheelchair-accessible van and drive the children back across the country. She is willing to do whatever it takes—but she can’t do it alone.

We are asking for any support to help her on this journey: Gas cards, Hotel or restaurant gift cards, or any donation, no matter how small

This isn’t just a trip—it’s a life-changing reunion. This grandmother is stepping up in a time of crisis to provide love, stability, and safety. With your help, we can lift the burden and bring these children home to someone who truly cares.

Thank you for your kindness and compassion.

62198140-A loving pair of adoptive parents is seeking support to build a fence for their yard. The cost of hiring local contractors has been a bit too steep for the family to manage on their own. These caring parents have three wonderful children, each facing unique challenges like fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), autism, ADHD, and anxiety. They often worry about their children leaving the house unexpectedly or wandering off, which can be dangerous, especially since two of the children have a tendency to run away—a common concern for children with autism. The children can have daily meltdowns triggered by sensory overload or anxiety, and these can sometimes lead to aggression, so the parents need to supervise closely to ensure everyone's safety. They would be incredibly grateful for support in building a secure fence, which would give the children a safe outdoor space to play and relax on difficult days, helping everyone feel more secure and at ease. The price is just an estimate based on a quick Google search, the family would appreciate if anyone with the skills and abilities to build this fence would be available to help them with this need.

A family of four, mom, dad, and two littles ages 2 and 4 months are in the US in the process of applying for asylum. They came here with their oldest and had the youngest while here in the US. They are from Venezuela and in need of some support. They are in need of a double stroller so they take their two littles out. Any help would be appreciated.

This mom is a single parent that turned to alcohol and had a mental breakdown after her husband divorced her. Her 13 year old daughter is in Foster Care in a group home in Toledo, Ohio. It has taken three years for this mom to take classes, attend rehab, and focus on her daughter returning home. This was not easy, but this mom is recovering! Mom will start weekend visits to start reunification, and has no bed for her daughter to sleep. This typical 13 year old would like a bedroom of her own. She requests a twin bed, her favorite colors are black and red for a comforter set, a mattress, a lamp and rug would be nice along with a twin size sheet set. Any help that is given is greatly appreciated.

A local Athens family is in need of some gas assistance. Several members of the family have frequent medical and assistance appointments, and gas is always a struggle to afford. They are hoping for some financial assistance to help them meet their needs—up to $200 in gas cards (any local gas station would be appreciated, but both Speedway and Marathon are near the family residence). They would, however, gratefully accept gas cards in any amount.