The Bridge

61964633- A devoted grandmother has recently welcomed her two young grandchildren, ages 3 and 5, into her home to provide them with the love and security every child deserves. She is doing everything she can to create a stable and nurturing environment, but she urgently needs a little help. We are seeking support to provide a grocery gift card so that the family is able to provide home cooked meals as well as a gift card for pull ups.

62254307-A devoted aunt has once again opened her heart and home to her sister’s five children—ages 3 to 14—and is now their full-time caregiver. This is the fourth time she has taken in the children, and while she is committed to keeping them safe and together, this most recent placement was completely unexpected.

She is not receiving any support from government assistance programs and is doing everything she can to provide for the children on her own. The need is immediate and significant.

Family Needs:

Clothing for all 5 children (varied sizes)

Grocery

Pull-ups and baby wipes

One of the children is autistic and still in diapers; the aunt is working to potty-train him in preparation for school.

She is determined to keep the children out of the foster care system and provide them with the love and stability they deserve—but she needs a little help from the community. Gift cards (Walmart, Target, grocery stores, or children's clothing stores) Pull-ups, wipes, or grocery staples

This aunt is not asking for much—just a helping hand during a hard time. Every bit of support makes a big difference.

🙏 Thank you for showing love in action. Together, we can make sure these children stay in a loving home.

A dedicated grandmother who is currently providing full-time care for four of her grandchildren is in need of a sweeper/vaccum that can be used on hardwood and carpeted surfaces. With so many young children to look after, their grandmother puts all of her resources into ensuring her grandchildren are loved and cared for. With all four children being very active and vivacious, their grandmother is often following their ideas and games with a broom and dustpan; Children creating memories often end in cleaning up messes. This can be very difficult to keep up when your cleaning appliances stop working altogether, like their grandmother’s did. Due to this, in order to meet the needs of this family, they are in need of a sweeper/vaccuum so that she can continue to meet the needs of her four very adored grandchildren. Amazon link has been provided for vacuum or something similar is fine. Go To Link

A devoted and selfless cousin of five and aunt of two is opening her heart and home to adopt her beloved relatives, hoping to give them the safe, permanent family they deserve. She’s stepped up in love, but now faces a financial barrier that stands in the way of making it official.

With help from OhioKAN, she’s connected with an adoption attorney willing to work with her on a payment plan. Still, the required court fees—$893.01 for the initial filing and $206.00 for the family assessment—remain out of reach for her.

She’s doing everything she can to build a secure and loving future for these children. Any support toward covering these costs would be deeply appreciated and would bring her one step closer to making her family whole.

61919698- There is a devoted grandmother who supports her household on a single income. She has consistently shown strength, stability, and an unwavering commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment for her grandchildren. Her 11-year-old granddaughter has a passion for music and a heartfelt dream to join the school band this year by playing the trumpet.

Unfortunately, the cost of purchasing or even renting a trumpet is a barrier the family cannot overcome at this time. Participating in band would not only allow this young student to explore her musical talents, but also build confidence, social skills, and a lasting sense of belonging.

We are reaching out to the community with a simple request: if you or someone you know is able to donate a trumpet or contribute toward the cost of one, it would be an incredible blessing to this family. Your generosity could open the door to a life-changing opportunity for this young girl to learn, grow, and shine alongside her classmates.

Thank you for your kindness and support.

I am working with a kinship caregiver who has legal custody of two children and who is also taking care of two other children who are not a blood relative (informal custody, there is no court involvement). Children Services have recently placed a child in the home who is related to some of the children already living in the home. This kinship caregiver does not work to take care of the children, but the kinship caregiver's husband works full time and can generally meet the family's basic needs. However, they need a twin-size bed and mattress for the child who was placed in the home by Children Services. Please consider helping this child get a bed and mattress so he has someplace to rest. Thank you so much!

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. 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. Below are the needed tasks! If anyone has the ability to help with any portions of this request, either some or all of the materials, or some or all of the labor, then we can assess the possibility of supporting or finding support for the remaining needs in the request!

• INSTALLATION OF A NEW 36 X 80 HALF GLASS WITH GRIDS ENTRY DOOR ON THE FRONT. * INSTALLATION OF A NEW 36 X 80 HALF GLASS WITH GRIDS ENTRY DOOR ON THE BACK. * INSTALLATION OF A NEW ALIKE STORM DOOR ON THE FRONT. * INSTALLATION OF A NEW ALIKE STORM DOOR ON THE BACK.
• INSTALLATION OF (3) NEW PRIMED WHITE 6 PANEL INTERIOR BEDROOM DOORS. * INSTALLATION OF (1) NEW PRIMED WHITE 6 PANEL BATHROOM DOOR.

There is one adult and one child living in the home. 11 year old boy. Mother and child does not have a lot of familial supports within the county. She has been a single parent since the child was approximately one year old. She recently lost her employment due to her car breaking down. She was also made aware that her son was being bullied at school. Because she lost her job she was having trouble maintaining rent but has utilized community resources. During all this her washer and dryer broke adding more stress. She has recently got her car fixed and started working again, but she is still behind and is trying to catch up with bills that she does not have the extra finances to repair her washer and dryer

#62205905 A loving family has taken custody of their son's best friend and is in need of some additional supports as they adjust. The family has recently moved into a larger home to ensure all the children have their own space and time to adjust to their new normal. The family is in need of furniture for this new home such as a coach and full-size bed and frame for the kinship child. OhioKAN has helped this family with first month's rent and deposit to ensure they get off on the right food in their new home. In addition to this the family is working to get the kinship child's death benefits transferred to him to allow for him to start building his savings for the future. The family of 6 has applied for food stamps and is receiving around $50 a month, at this time they have requested a review however this takes time and has left them with ever rising grocery bills. While the family waits for the review of their food stamps application to go through. We are asking for support to ensure that food is still on the table for this family through the summer months with all the children being at home right now. Gift cards to places like Walmart, Kroger, or Aldi are all greatly appreciated!

A devoted and loving caregiver is reaching out for support with her past-due car payment. She is the mother of a sixteen-year-old son and the aunt and full-time caregiver to her two young nephews, ages four and three. Recently, she has undergone several surgeries, which required her husband to take on the full responsibility of caring for her. Because of these challenges, they have fallen behind on their car payments, and the family now faces the risk of losing their vehicle.

Thankfully, a caretaker is now able to assist with her care as her husband looks for work, but reliable transportation remains critical for this family. They currently live in Section 8 housing and receive assistance to help cover their utility bills, yet they urgently need help to catch up on the car payments so they can keep their vehicle.

The caregiver is disabled and uses a wheelchair, making access to a dependable vehicle essential for attending frequent medical appointments. Additionally, having a reliable car will allow her husband to commute to work and support the family financially. The past-due balance on the car is $2,519, and paying this amount would prevent repossession and provide the stability this family desperately needs.

Any support toward this goal would be deeply appreciated and would make a meaningful difference in helping this family maintain their independence, health, and well-being.

A devoted caregiver is seeking support for her family during a very challenging season. Her husband is battling multiple serious health conditions, including COPD, kidney cancer, and pancreatic cancer. They are doing everything they can to create a stable and supportive environment while living on a fixed income, which includes Social Security, SSI, and Child Only–OWF benefits.

With her son stepping in to help provide care and Meals on Wheels in place for her husband, this caregiver is working tirelessly to meet her family’s daily needs. One ongoing challenge is the lack of a washer and dryer, which has made it difficult to manage household responsibilities, especially with her husband's health needs. Please note that the washer and dryer can be used or new.

Support with a washer and dryer would greatly ease their daily burdens and bring much-needed relief to a family navigating so many hardships with strength and love.

A devoted caregiver is in urgent need of support as she prepares to relocate her family during an incredibly difficult time. Her husband is battling multiple serious health conditions, including COPD, kidney cancer, and pancreatic cancer. With rising costs and a fixed income, the family has made the difficult decision to move into a more affordable apartment closer to loved ones, where they can receive the help they need. Unfortunately, the moving expenses are overwhelming. The moving company has quoted $2,050.00, and breaking their current lease will cost an additional $4,000. While the new apartment will significantly ease their financial burden long term, they need help getting there. The family’s income consists of Social Security, SSI, and Child Only–OWF benefits. They have reached out to local resources like PRC and Jewish Family Services—who have helped with groceries and gas—but financial support for the move has not been secured. The caregiver has taken steps to ensure her husband receives proper care, including signing him up for Meals on Wheels, and her son is stepping in to help as well. This family is doing all they can, but they can’t do it alone. Support with moving expenses would provide critical relief and stability during an already overwhelming time.