Lancaster Vineyard Church

A devoted great-grandmother is caring for her 6-year-old great-grandson with unconditional love and resilience. Despite limited resources, she has opened her heart and home to provide the stability and care he deserves. Now, she needs help giving him a few of life’s basic comforts.

She is seeking a twin-size bed to ensure he has a safe, warm place to sleep—somewhere he can dream freely and rest well. Additionally, the child is in need of clothing for sizes 8–10, appropriate for his age and growing body. Unfortunately, the exact sizing—especially in shoes—is unknown, so a gift card to a store that allows for in-person shopping and fitting would make a world of difference.

A Muskingum County kinship caregiver, who is the legal custodian of her nephew, is currently facing a short-term financial challenge after recently losing her job. She has secured new employment, but as she awaits her first paycheck, it has been difficult to keep up with essential expenses. One immediate and pressing need is her car insurance payment, which totals $177. Maintaining car insurance is crucial for her to continue working and to fulfill her responsibilities as a caregiver. Any support in covering the cost during this time of transition would make a meaningful difference and help her to continue providing stability for her family. Thank you for your consideration.

I’m reaching out on behalf of a dedicated kinship caregiver in Muskingum County, who is currently facing a temporary financial hardship. She is the legal custodian of her young nephew and has been providing a stable, loving home for him. Recently, she experienced an unexpected job loss, however she has since secured new employment. As a result of delay in receiving her first paycheck, she has fallen behind on her car payment — a critical resource that allows her to maintain employment and meet her family's daily needs. The caregiver is seeking temporary assistance in the amount of $541, to help her cover this essential expense so she can continue providing for her nephew and remain on track as she transitions back into financial stability. Any support during this time would be deeply appreciated. Thank you for your time and consideration.

A devoted and loving caregiver is seeking support with a past-due car payment that is placing her family at risk of losing their only vehicle. She is the mother of a sixteen-year-old son and the full-time caregiver to her two young nephews, ages four and three. Due to a series of recent surgeries, she has required ongoing care, which her husband has been providing—forcing him to pause his job search and putting additional strain on their household finances.

Although a caretaker is now able to assist with her recovery and her husband is actively seeking employment, reliable transportation remains critical. The family currently resides in Section 8 housing and receives utility assistance, but they have fallen behind on their car payments. Without immediate support, their vehicle may be repossessed.

The caregiver is disabled and uses a wheelchair, and access to dependable transportation is essential for attending frequent medical appointments. A working vehicle would also allow her husband to commute to work, which is vital for restoring the family’s financial stability.

The past-due balance on the car is $583. Covering this amount would prevent repossession and provide much-needed security and independence for this family. Any support toward this goal would be deeply appreciated and would have a lasting impact on their health, mobility, and overall well-being.

61919552 A devoted aunt has lovingly welcomed two children into her care, creating a safe and nurturing home filled with stability, love, and the essentials—food, clothing, and emotional support. While she has worked tirelessly to ensure they feel secure, the family is in urgent need of two dressers to properly store the children’s clothing. This missing piece is more than furniture—it’s a daily reminder that they’re still new to this space and not yet fully settled.

We worked with the family to identify five dresser options that would fit their needs and secured the most cost-effective choice. After negotiating with the store, we’ve lowered the price to $325 per dresser, plus a $69 delivery fee. These dressers are currently in stock and ready for immediate purchase. Though we’ve previously submitted this request through CarePortal, we're reaching out again now that the family’s preferences are confirmed.

For donors or organizations wanting to stretch their impact further, costs could be reduced by picking up and delivering the items, removing the delivery fee entirely.

Every contribution—whether matching funds, partial support, or covering the full cost—will help create a more settled, loving space for these children. We truly appreciate any support you can offer to help meet this need

A loving and devoted grandmother is currently raising her sixteen-year-old granddaughter through kinship care, stepping up selflessly to provide the stability, love, and guidance her granddaughter needs during a difficult chapter in their lives. She has created a safe and nurturing home, showing incredible strength and resilience every step of the way.

Recently, this strong caregiver faced a life-changing diagnosis: breast cancer. She underwent a double mastectomy and is now in the early stages of recovery. As she heals, she is unable to work and is struggling to stay on top of basic living expenses. Her monthly rent is $800, and she is in urgent need of support to cover just one month of housing. OhioKAN was able to assist with June rent, but she continues to need help with July rent, and possibly August, as it will take time to receive her first paycheck after returning to work.

This assistance would give her room to breathe, heal, and continue caring for her granddaughter without the added weight of financial strain. She is not asking for charity — only a helping hand while she regains her strength. Your support, whether through financial aid, resources, or referrals, would provide comfort and stability to a family doing everything they can to stay together through an incredibly hard time.

By helping this grandmother, we are helping preserve a home, protect a child, and uplift a woman whose love and courage are holding her family together.

This family has had a very hard time. The mom was a traffic victim. She got pregnant but was made to give her baby up and then was told her baby died. She mourned her baby only to find out later that her child was alive and the child had been taken from the family that had her. Mom is working to get her child back but it has been a struggle. The child doesn't understand and has been struggling to connect with mom. They are both in counseling including family counseling. Mom is doing better and is actually engaged to be married. They have very little as their lives are still trying to come back from the horrible start. They are needing support with getting a gas stove to help make family meals and a washer and dryer. Any help is appreciated.

A devoted and loving grandmother—now the legal custodian of her two granddaughters, ages 9 and 5—is in need of support covering an unexpected dental expense. She recently chipped a tooth while eating, and after visiting the dentist, she was informed that she needs a partial and a root canal. The estimated out-of-pocket cost for the procedure is approximately $1,000.

Although the caregiver is employed, her dental insurance covers only a small portion of the needed work. On top of that, she has just secured legal custody of her granddaughters and is in the process of applying for Medicaid. However, if she is found over the income limit, she will need to add the children to her employer-medical plan, significantly reducing her take-home pay.

She is actively working with her OhioKAN Navigator to explore available community resources for financial assistance. While some benefits applications have been submitted—including the Child Only–Ohio Works First program and the Kinship Permanency Incentive Program—these programs may take time and may not fully cover the current need.

The family would be deeply grateful for any support offered. The caregiver is happy to provide contact information for the dental clinic if this request is accepted. Thank you for your generosity and for helping support this dedicated caregiver and her grandchildren.

I am writing on behalf of a kinship family in Philo, Ohio (Muskingum County). She and her husband have custody of a non-relative child that just turned 16. They also have their own two biological children in the home. Their refrigerator is not working well. With the added cost of trying to supply the kinship child with a vehicle, they are struggling to buy a refrigerator. They are just looking for one that works well, not necessarily a new one. The family has checked with several area resources, including ReStores, Goodwill, and local ministries. So far, they have not had success finding a refrigerator. This family is working very hard to give their kinship child a good start. He will attend the local vocational school in the fall and will need to drive there. He is excited about the possibility of finding employment as he transitions from high school to the work force. If they could get assistance with a refrigerator, this will free up funds they need to support this child's future. We appreciate your consideration.

I have a family currently living in Zanesville that are looking for a used washer/dryer. This kinship family is currently raising a little boy (their nephew) with special needs (significant hearing loss). The biological mother of the little boy is expecting a baby, so the family will soon be getting a second child to raise. In addition to this, the family currently has two children of their own. They currently have a washer/dryer, but they are renting it from a local rent-to-own company with a hefty payment. They are hoping to free up those funds so that they can use that money to help care for their growing family. Local organizations have been called, including the ReStore in Zanesville, but none have been able to find a washer/dryer. The family has stated that they could put around $200 towards the cost of a used set. They will also need a way to transport the washer/dryer to their first-floor apartment. The washer/dryer do not have to be stackable, as they have room for a traditional set. This family has taken steps already to accommodate their family. They recently got a larger vehicle. It is the hope that this small need can be met so that they can feel comfortable financially with the added strain of more children in the home. Thank you for considering this request.

A single mom with two children one with asthma have had their electric turned off for over a week. They have an appointment to try and get assistance but they have been told they have the back charges paid off. This mom has been struggling for awhile. She has been fighting with her rental company because their is mold in the apartment and it is affecting her child's asthma. Now with no air conditioning and the heat her child's asthma is even worse. They are not fixing it. Was trying to get her kids in a summer program so she could work but the one they got into had some problems and they couldn't go to camp for awhile. With everything this family has been going through they really just need help. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I am working with a kinship caregiver who has three biological children, legal custody of two children, and 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. The kinship caregiver's husband works full time and can generally meet the family's basic needs. Children Services was able to purchase a mattress for the child. However, they need a twin-size bed frame for the child who was placed in the home by Children Services. Please consider helping this child get a bed frame so he has someplace to rest. Thank you so much!