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."
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.
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.
Laurie
Laurie suffered a stroke and needed help with moving expenses to move in with family to care for her.
Laurie had a serious stroke was unlikely to ever return to work and needed to move in with family members to receive the appropriate care.
The Krewe assisted with moving expenses.
Mr. "P"
Unable to work due to injury and needed help with short term living expenses.
Mr P is in his early 60's and worked as a welder for the same company for 15 years. He was injured but was not been able to prove it was work related, he lost his job.
Mr P needed surgery to repair the injury and could not work for two months during the recovery period.
The Krewe assisted with a total of $2,000 to cover food and utilities until he could resume work.
Nager Family
Mother battling cancer
Mrs, Nager was going through treatments for stage 3 very aggressive breast cancer. (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma). She has a husband and 3 kids. Ages 16, 15, and 6. Her husband is working two jobs to make ends meet. They were behind on rent and struggling with groceries and were unable to buy school supplies for the children.
The Krewe paid one month’s rent directly to the rental agency, and $500 in gift cards for groceries and/or school supplies.
Note from Mrs. Nager" I truly am at a loss for words as to what to say, I know I cannot thank the Krewe of the 13 enough for what they have done for me. I do not know how I could ever repay such a generous gift, but from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU! I will never forget what you have done for me."
Richard
Single retired person without running water for two years
Richard retired after 42 years as a truck driver and is considered disabled due to his medical illnesses. He is an unmarried man, with no living family left.
The well at his house collapsed and he was told he was not allowed to repair the well and must connect to County utilities. - which he could not afford. Therefore, for two years now, he has been without running water in his house. He is unable to cook at his home and has been going to the truck stop once a week to shower.
Flagler Health, who is one of our major sponsors, thought that the Krewe of the 13 could also work collaboratively with Humana, United Way, Saint Vincent de Paul, and St. Johns Housing Partnership, to help get Richard back on his feet once again.
The total cost was $7.600 of which the Krewe contributed $3,408
