Families We Help
"Since February 2017, The Krewe of the 13 has been raising money to help local families and individuals who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in dire need. We try to help when we are able to change the outcome of a temporary situation.
Here are some of the stories of the families and individual we have helped."
Amanda & Family
Amanda is an employed and hardworking single mother with three children who had rented a house for three years with no issues. At the height of the housing crisis Amanda was served with eviction papers. The family ended up sleeping in a hotel while they looked for accommodation, the cost of the hotel depleted the remainder of their resources. The family was forced to split up and live with separate friends.
The Krewe provided funds for first, last, and security deposit on an apartment/house rental, utilities hook-up, and additional two months' rent.
The family was reunited and living in stable accommodations.
Ashley
26 year old young lady with breast cancer needed support
Ashley is the 26 year old young lady with breast cancer and has a five year old son.
She needed a car and insurance to go to her treatments, doctor’s appointments, to transport her son to and from school.
The Krewe provided funds for past due car payment plus 2 additional months, phone bill plus 2 additional months, 3 months car insurance.
Ashely is now past her surgery and has completed her last round of chemo. She has remained positive and upbeat throughout this ordeal, so much so that she is even helping others that are starting their journey.
Carissa
Carissa became a victim of domestic violence. When her husband was removed from the house she learned they were behind on rent and on the verge of eviction.
Carissa became the sole provider for her two children when her husband was removed from the house. She learned she was behind two months rent and utilities. She started a new job, it will cover current bills, but not the past due ones. She was about to have her utilities shut off and on the verge of eviction
The Krewe provided $3,500 for 2 months past due rent, and $836 for 2 months past due utilities for a total of
$4,336. All funds paid directly to the provider.
Christina & Son
Young single mother barely making ends meet faced the need for a double-mastectomy.
In December 2021 Christina X went to the doctor to get a lump checked out. Immediately before Christmas Christina was told that she needed a double mastectomy, immediately.
Christina, who is a single mother, has a 5-year-old son and is just making ends meet.
The Krewe paid the surgery copay and Christina's mortgage, utilities and childcare for 6 months.
Note from Christine:
"The Krewe of the 13 are truly an amazing group of people. The support that they provided to my son and I through an extremely difficult and terrifying time in my life was beyond generous. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without them. With their help, I’m able to concentrate on my treatment and getting better for my son. After meeting them and seeing first-hand what they do, it warms my heart to know that there are still genuinely good people in this world. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!"
Diane and Family
Medical bills from cancer treatments and numerous surgeries for several family members made it impossible to stay current with rent and bills
Family consists of grandmother, mother, and two children. Grandmother is undergoing cancer treatment, mother has had nine major surgeries in the past two years, and son had one surgery this year. All the medical bills and copays made it impossible to stay current with rent and routine bills.
The Krewe provided $3,550 to cover one month back rent and partial rent payments for the next two months.
Partnering with Advent Health Systems, we were able to provide an additional $1925 to help with the ongoing medical Co-pays.
Family "A"
Unemployed due to company closure and evicted the week before Christmas.
The breadwinner had lost long term employment due to company closure, the family the decided to invest their savings in a training course to open a new career. During the training the breadwinner became seriously ill. The family was doing everything possible to help themselves, including the wife working a minimum wage job while caring for her husband. However, they were losing the battle, they had been eating poorly for several months and were due to be evicted the week before Christmas.
The Krewe was able to pay two months rent (directly to the property manager) and delivered a holiday dinner.
The family is now back on their feet and have asked to join the Krewe to help us raise money for others in dire need.
Family "X"
Victims of domestic violence
Ms. “x”, a single mom with two children under the age of 10, is trying to start a new life for her family free from violence. Her divorce in early 2019 provided a safe home for her children, but she struggled financially after receiving no help from the children’s’ father. Additionally, her employer cut her full-time hours back to part time because of time needed for child care. This loss of income ultimately resulted in an eviction from her apartment. Since that time, Ms. “x” found a new place to live and stable employment, but fell behind again attempting to pay her past debts, rent, and all child care costs with no assistance. She received notice that she was to be evicted right after Christmas.
The Krewe paid for three months’ rent (directly to the rental company) and also provided a $500 gift card for holiday expenses, a total of $3,454.00.
Note from Ms "X":
Thanks to the Krewe for their gracious assistance and encourage other women of DV that they do not have to stay in an abusive relationship- there are people that care and are willing to help!
Farra
Family of six, one parent lost a job and they got behind on rent and evicted. They needed help with first and last months' rent and partial security deposit on new apartment.
Farra is a nursing student with three children. She works part-time delivering for a food delivery service, and home schools her kids. She lives with her mother and the children's father. When her mother lost her job, they got behind on rent and were evicted. They had enough for a partial security deposit on a new apartment but needed help with the rest.
The Krewe provided $400 towards her $1,000 housing deposit.
$2,800 for their first and last months' rent. All funds to be paid directly to the provider
Grayson
Terminally ill 5-year old boy who's family has as amassed insurmountable medical bills.
Grayson is a terminally ill 5-year-old boy. Grayson’s family have spent every penny on his medical treatment and have $ 1,200,000 in medical bills.
Grayson’s father takes advantage of every possible hour of work.
The Krewe has:
Provided $5,000 for pain medication and medical supplies.
Sewed him a pirate outfit and participated in a pirate cruise that he requested.
Cooked meals at Grayson’s house and tried to give his family some rest time
Accompanied Grayson to medical appointments and sang sea shanties during his procedures to distract him so he remains still.
Our support of Grayson’s family will be ongoing until he succumbs to this disease.
We later became aware that his baby brother, Ethan has intestinal cancer, he is undergoing treatment and will survive. One of them is being treated in Gainesville, and the other in Jacksonville, so their mother Breanna is going backwards and forwards, sometimes more than once a day. This putting an additional financial burden on the family. The Krewe helped with an additional $1,000 in the form of gas cards to help take some of the financial stress off them as they go through even more challenges.
