The family is requesting assistance fixing a leak that has caused them to be unable to use the upstairs shower/bathtub. Mom and dad have five children under the age of eighteen in the home and six children total in the home that they care for. Dad works full time at Red Robin. Mom and dad both have extensive mental health needs. Two of the children have learning and physical disabilities. Since the shower has not been functioning, the entire family has had to share one shower. There is concern for the children’s hygiene due to this.

This request is for a family in need of a WAL-MART gift card to purchase a phone and a phone card. This phone card is to assist bio family. The parents need a phone to be able to communicate with service providers for appointments. Their son is currently residing with the maternal grandparents. The parents are working through substance abuse and mental health issues at this current time. They utilize the phone to maintain phone contact and video visits when they cannot see him face to face with the grandparents. The phone is essential to the parents for a variety of reasons. They lost their phone on the bus on the way to the appointment and it has not been recovered. The parents have several medical appointments, substance abuse treatment, as well as visitations with their son and a phone is a tool to be able to connect with all entities. Ultimately, the request is for a phone and phone card and the family would be appreciative if this request could be met. It benefits the parents to be able to stay in touch with service providers for their care. It is also emotionally and therapeutically important for their 4 year old son to be able to have adequate contact with his parents.

This request is for a single mother who is in need of a VISA gift card to assist with clothes for her three children between the ages of 6-12. She is currently doubled up staying with a friend while seeking housing. She is currently looking for employment and has been on several interviews. She is working with the Department to obtain daycare for her children so she can work and attend her medical appointments. Since she has had to move around several times due to unforeseen circumstances the children have been unable to take all of their belongings. Any donations towards this request would be greatly appreciated.

This family consists of a mother and her two sons, ages two and ten, as well as a stepfather. This family is in need of big support at this time. The family has no insurance, and the ten-year-old son has never seen a doctor or dentist. The child recently saw a dentist through the school and found out that he has ten abscessed teeth and needs a lot of dental work done. The child went to the dentist to estimate the work needed and the total cost is $6697, not including the two root canals he will have to be referred out to get. He will need seven fillings, two extractions, and two crowns following the root canals. Due to the family not having insurance any and all help would be very beneficial to them. The child is having a very hard time sleeping and now talking due to the pain in his mouth. Since this is such a big request we understand that assistance can come from multiple sources.

I am working with a family that has been working with the Department for several years. This family has a history of substance abuse and domestic violence. Currently, the mother and father are involved in several services to maintain sobriety and develop positive relationship skills. The mother's cell phone is no longer working effectively - this makes it difficult to communicate with service providers and with the Department. I am hoping to help her get a new phone to assist with this communication. There are several available at Walmart at various prices - the average price was around $80. Additionally, phone cards come in a range of prices. This mother is also in search of spiritual connection and community, so she would be very open to forming a relationship with the helping church.

This request is to assist a single mother with her three biological children. We currently provide behavior intervention support and preventative services for one of the children who is diagnosed with a developmental delay. The mother reported that she is struggling financially due to job loss. The family is currently without power due to recent financial instability. We are seeking assistance with making a payment to turn the power on. Upon this need being met the family will be able to have a grace period while the caregiver continues the process of seeking employment.

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.

This request is to assist a single mother with her three biological children. We currently provide behavior intervention support and preventative services for one of the children who is diagnosed with a developmental delay. The mother reported that she is struggling financially. We are seeking assistance with acquiring clothing for her three children. The family is in need for assistance with getting spring/summer clothing for 3 children (Female: 4-years-old; size 6/6x, Female: 5-years-old; size 6/6x, and Male: 10-years-old; size 14/16). The family will have access to spring/summer clothing.

Please consider donating a couch to a single mother of two, who has recently left a violent domestic relationship. The mother is a very hard-working woman, however, is unable to afford a couch for her small living room. A couch donation would help this mother and children feel more at-home in their new living arrangement, away from further domestic abuse.

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 children were placed in the care of their paternal aunt. The aunt is in need of assistance of clothing for the children. The aunt resides in Chesapeake so a gift card is being requested so that she can purchase needed items for the children to include clothes, and underclothes.

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.

Working Mother is in need of a new reliable car. The mother bought a car last year and the engine blew with still a significant balance left on the car. Mother needs a car for reliable transportation for work and the children's needs. Please help this working mother to relieve some of the financial burdens she is experiencing to give her children better lives.

Single father of two is struggling to maintain stability to stay ahead of rent payments. The mother and father recently split, so the income for the household has been cut in half. The father faces a 5-day "Pay or Quit" notice and possible eviction. Help this Father and his children to maintain stable housing.

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.

When their niece and nephew came into foster care, this aunt and uncle willingly took in the children. The aunt and uncle live outside of Richmond, Virginia, and due to the children's parents not having transportation, the aunt and uncle have been transporting the children to Roanoke from the Richmond area for visits with their parents. The aunt and uncle have run into some issues with their vehicle that need to be fixed in order for them to continue to provide safe and reliable transportation for the children to see their mom and dad. Regular visits are crucial to help achieve the goal of reunification with the children's parents, and the family does not want transportation issues to be a barrier to return home. The aunt and uncle have been quoted $527.73 for vehicle repairs. They are unable to pay the money out-of-pocket and are looking for help in getting the vehicle fixed.

A single mother who is pregnant is in need of 4 new tires for her car. Unfortunately, the tires were damaged by someone who does not approve of the mother moving forward with choosing life for the unborn baby. Without transportation, she is not able to get to work and medical visits. The alternative options she has for transportation are not reliable. Having her car operable again will help relieve stress, frustration, anxiety, and worry from her daily routine.

I am working with a single father of two biological sons. The man receives disability due to a back injury. He has very limited income. This man's sister became ill and was not able to care for her teenage son. This man, who I will now call Uncle, took in his 15 year old nephew. In September 2022, the boy's mother passed away. Uncle has cared for the child since and wants to continue to do so. The child has been sleeping on the couch or a blow up air mattress in the living room. Uncle states that he would love a sleeper sofa that the child could sleep on. Additionally, he would need sheets to fit the mattress for the pull out as well as a blanket/comforter and pillows.

The aunt is the main caretaker for her niece. She had to put her only means of transportation in the shop for repairs. The aunt has health issues that restrict her from being able to walk for long periods of time or for long distances. She has not been able to take her niece to and from the bus stop, or even walk herself to the bus stop. At one time, the child’s bus had broken down on the way to the school to pick the child up, and because the aunt did not have her vehicle, the child was left at school until the aunt could obtain a ride. The aunt has had many doctor’s appointments regarding her diminished health, and even though she is able to use Medicaid transportation, it makes it difficult for her to get to and from different locations, such as the grocery store. Not all of her doctor’s appointments are scheduled within the time period required by the Medicaid transportation timeframe making them unwilling to help due to their policies. Right now, the aunt does not have the financial means to afford to get her vehicle fixed. She has no current stable income due to the lack of transportation and is looking for help to move past this obstacle. The $750 has been requested by the repair shop as a deposit to start repairs on the car. The rest of the money, totaling $2595.55 has been broken up into smaller requests to allow multiple churches and respondents to help this family. Any help at this time would be greatly appreciated by the aunt and she sends her thanks in advance.