A young couple with a 2-month-old is working through some challenging times. Unfortunately, the husband is trying to find employment and the couple is behind. Their utility bill is past due $300 and is an urgent need. In addition, the couple would like any support with advice regarding issues with their landlord and helping find a sponsorship for husband's citizenship. Help with this request will strengthen this family. Most importantly, having guidance as a young married couple will be significant as well.

Lynchburg City Schools is in need of 15 belts for male students to wear during the school day. Some students do not own a belt or may have forgotten to put one on. While a belt does help to complete the school outfit requirements, having a belt is also a way to avoid the fashion trend of teenagers wearing their pants with the waistline above the hips. Support in this endeavor will allow students and teachers to start the school day without further distractions or delays. (3 belts size Small, 5 belts size Medium, 5 belts size Large, and 2 belts size XL)

This family of six, Mom, daughter aged 16, daughter aged 15, twin sons aged 14, and a daughter aged 5. The family is involved with CPS due to lack of supervision, truancy, and unmet mental health needs of the children. The 14 year old boys have significate behavior issues and have broken at least one window in the home, Mom is scared to get the landlord involved in fixing the window as she doesn't want to be put out. The home is poorly insulated and she has asked the land lord about insulating as she is getting $1000 electric bills monthly but he is unwilling to do anything. One of the twins is currently living in Bedford with his aunt but he was just suspended for 10 days for threatening his teacher, so he may be returning home soon and has no bed to sleep in when he does return. Mom has her hands full and has been very open to guidance to improve things in her family. The oldest girls are attending school more regularly and I am working on getting everyone's mental health needs addressed. Only the oldest daughter has a dressed and none of the children have anywhere to put their clothing.

Mom is working on her home to ensure it safe for the children to return to the home. Mom has completed some of the task requested of her but she is in need of beds that are the correct size and not soiled. She is in need of 3 twin beds and mattresses. Two of the beds are for elementary school age girls and they will also need bedding. The other bed is for a teenage girl. Updated on March 23, 2023 by an Agency Worker
A deep cleaning would be beneficial for the home as well.

Mom is working to have her children return home. One of the conditions is to ensure that the children have beds to sleep in. I am requesting two twin beds and mattresses for boys and a twin mattress. Mom did not request bedding but it seems that she may benefit from bedding as well. The children also need dressers for the clothes and hangers for the closets. At this time her gas has also been turned off due to her work hours being decreased.

This is a big ask, but I feel it's worth trying for this family. Mom and Dad have been together since they were teenagers, they both grew up in poverty and Mom's mother had Huntington's and has since passed away. They both have some family for support, but it's limited. There are five children a girl aged 13, a boy aged 11, a boy aged 8, a boy aged 7 and a girl aged 2. Dad works full time but does not make enough to pull the family out of poverty and Mom suffers from depression, which is how I believe the situation with the children's teeth got so bad. All five children have rotting teeth, which is why CPS is involved. The middle son's been in constant, severe pain that caused him to have emotional and behavior outbursts at school, eventually leading to him standing on the top of a second floor stairwell railing attempting to jump off to end his life, he has since been expelled from school. The children have been sent to live with family and the family lost their home shortly after and all beds. The middle son currently lives with his paternal grandmother who reported he cried all night because his teeth hurt so badly that she offered to pay out of pocket for his dental care. The children have never had their own beds and have always had to share with each other, and were confused at the idea of having their own beds. Mom and Dad are doing everything they can to reach reunification. They have found a home but it is being cleaned of black mold.

Mother and her three children recently relocated to Lynchburg VA in January 2023. Mother was escaping a domestically Violent relationship from Maryland. When the mother left, she was unable to take any belongings of hers or her children's. The children currently do not have clothing for themselves to be able to attend school. Thankfully, a friend of the mother's was able to take them in so they have been staying with her; however, the two boys are sleeping on air mattresses on the floor and do not even have their own private bedroom. One is sleeping in a dining room and another in the living room. The girl is sharing a room with her mother. There is so much bravery that this mother had to have to be able to relocate and keep her children safe, even if that meant sacrificing all she and her children had. The children are 10-female, 12-male, and 15-male.

I have a single mother of a newborn child that needs assistance with her light bill. She lives on her own and is trying managing being a new mother. She has a cutoff notice for 3/17/23.

I am currently serving a kinship caregiver caring for her two cousins ages 10 and 14. She was served by CarePortal about 2 years ago, and she is in need of some additional support and connection at this time. Due to her disability and the chronic pain that comes with it, she has been unable to work as much as she would like to. Also, in the last month, she has had to miss a significant amount of work due to her kids being sick. This caregiver recently discovered a portion of unpaid property taxes when she thought she had paid them all. Because of the remaining balance, a stop has been put on her license. This means that she will be unable to renew her registration this month, and if she were to drive, her car could be towed. She would really appreciate someone who could cover the cost of the taxes, so that the family will have transportation. Secondly, due to her disability causing her so much pain, housekeeping has been a challenge. Assistance with cleaning around the home would help ease that burden and keep a clean environment for the family. The home is a small, single-wide unit. However, since this is an ongoing need, if someone is willing to build a relationship with her and come on regular cadence to meet this tangible need, this caregiver would appreciate that connection. This could be ideal for a women's group to serve together! Thank you so much for choosing to bless this family!

A foster family is needing a crib for an infant that has been placed in their home. If this need is met, foster mom will be able to ensure safe sleep for this baby, he is getting too big to sleep in the playpen and is having concerns if this sleeping arrangement is comfortable for him at this time. This baby is needing a comfortable sleeping arrangement and enough space to growing.

A kinship family that I am currently working with is in need of financial support to ensure that the kid in their home is able to make it back and forth to schedule family visitations. The kinship family is currently residing in Richmond Virginia and have not been able to consistently make scheduled family visits that are occurring in Lynchburg VA. Lynchburg DSS have adjusted the schedule to accommodate with the amount of travel time for the kinship family. The kinship provider has made an arrangement with another family member that is willing to ensure that this kid is able to make bi-weekly visits. This family member will be traveling from Lynchburg to Richmond to ensure that this kid is able to make bi-weekly visits but will be in need of some financial assistance. If this need is met then it will help secure the kinship placement, currently this kid could lose this placement if he is unable to make bi-weekly visits in order to move towards reunification with his mother, father, and siblings. This placement is very important to this kid because he is receiving educational support that has allowed him to catch up and pass on to the next grade, he is also involved in karate, which is something he really enjoys.

The family is seeking connection and support from a local church. The couple took in their 5 grandsons and they are needing help with new car seats for the 3 youngest children. The boys are outgrowing their current carseats and they are soon to be out of date.The couple has also adopted another granddaughter and have a disabled daughter living in the home with them as well. The grandmother is working at the post office but was injured and her income was cut in half. The grandfather is a farmer, but business has been very slow lately. The children needing assistance include: 1 male (age 4) 1 male (age 4) 1 male (age 3)

An aunt is in need of a full size mattress as she has taken in her two nieces (3 and 4) and her nephew (3) months. Aunt is also a single mom with her own child and is working on her nursing degree. Mom struggles with substance abuse issues but is committed to recovery. Mom is in services and helps out with the children every day at aunts house. Aunt has blowup mattresses right now but would like to have a mattress that will be more comfortable so that the children can sleep better at night. aunt also is in need of a new dining set, as one of the chairs is broken and can be hazardous to the children.

A maternal grandmother has taken in three of her grandchildren due to mom’s domestic violence relationship and substance abuse problems. The girls are 6 and 9 and the boy is 12. The 12 year old struggles with school and has been traumatized by his experiences with this process. The 9 year old is having some problems with being a kid, as she has had to be a big sister to the 6 year old to protect her and protect her mother during fights. It is likely that grandmother will end up with the children long term and needs help getting the home situated. The children are safe with their grandmother but she is in need of help with mattresses for the children so that they do not have to sleep on thec couch. The children are very pleasant and intelligent but need a stable living environment to thrive.

I am working with a grandmother and grandfather caring for their 8 year old granddaughter. The grandmother has expressed that her granddaughter would greatly benefit from a mentor who could build a positive relationship. The granddaughter has several areas of interest that a mentor could share: crafts, crochet, soccer, music/singing/dancing, gymnastics. The grandmother would be thankful to have a young female give whatever time they have available to her granddaughter, however a tentative amount of time that could be expected is 4-6 hours a month. A firm schedule would be developed between the mentor and grandmother.

The family consists of a 17 year old girl, a 3 year old boy, and a 30 year old caretaker. The 17 year old child was placed in the home with her aunt and cousin after previously being placed in foster care and having parental rights terminated. 17 year old currently has unicorn comforter that she does not feel suits her and makes her feel as though her room is not "home" like. She had to mostly settle for what she has and something as minimal as a comforter to her liking may help her feel like she has a little more control over her life. 17 year old would prefer a solid color. Caretaker currently has a couch that is old. Caretaker has been trying to get a new couch that is more comfortable for her family, however the funds are an issue as caretaker has had no luck with jobs she has applied for.

A couple who is expecting a child came for the wife's ultrasound appointment. Due to the loss of the husband's job, the family has faced great financial need. Even though the husband is seeking new employment, the couple has an electricity cut off notice. The support for this family will help strengthen them, alleviate pressure and stress, and allow the husband to continue to look for means of provision for his family. They have been diligent with seeking guidance for a healthy pregnancy and the process of delivery.

1 year old female was just yesterday placed with paternal great-grandmother due to drug/alcohol use by her parents. This grandmother already has custody of an older sibling due to CPS involvement in 2020 that involved a child fatality of a 3rd sibling. The grandmother is in need of financial assistance to help with daycare fees, until she is approved for childcare assistance.

I am working with a mother who is currently homeless and has recently found an apartment to lease. After speaking with the landlord and receiving the lease, this young lady will be able to afford her monthly rent but needs assistance with the down payment. The mother's child is staying with his father in another locality until the mother can find stable housing. The mother has had several interviews for jobs and is working on cleaning properties here and there to save money/ Mother has saved $350 and is short $500 for the deposit. The landlord would need to receive the money by this weekend to move the mother in the next week.

A single mother of 8 is attempting to reunify with her oldest child who has been placed out of the home for several months to receive psychiatric care. The child has made tremendous progress to the point that the team hopes to discharge him back home over the next two months, but housing has continued to be a primary barrier. The current living situation is not one that the child could return to, so housing is needed before reunification can occur. The mother has participated well throughout the case and has identified a potential rental property, but needs a security deposit and first month’s rent totalling $1850. We are requesting that CarePortal meet a portion of this need.