RECIPIENTS
2014 CARS 4 CHRISTMAS
HARRAHS NKC CASINO
PHOTOS
CARIE BURCH
One car could change the lives of an entire family. Carie is a hard working single mother of 3 beautiful children. She walks 3 miles to the bus stop and back every day to get to her job as a hotel cleaning lady and she never complains or misses a day of work. No matter if it's raining, snowing, sweltering hot or freezing cold, she makes it to work every day after getting her children up and ready for school and on their bus. I worry about her safety, especially since she walks in the dark in the winter months. It takes so long to get back and forth to work, she doesn't get to spend much time with her kids. Having a car would not only provide transportation for Carie and her family, it would make her dream of going to college to become an x-ray technician a reality. With this education, she could have a career that would adequately support her family. She could buy clothing for her children instead of the donated clothing they wear now. They could eat wholesome food instead of what they get by on now. Most of all, she would be setting an example for her children, which would mean the world to all of us. I'm her mother and I'm very proud of how hard she works and what a great mother she is, but it's so painful to know everything they miss out on because they have no transportation. A car would be more than a convenience; it would change the lives of an entire family and open up a world of opportunity for Carie and her kids, Christian, David and Isabell. Please grant this Christmas wish!
I've been praying for a car for them for so long. Thank you!
I've been praying for a car for them for so long. Thank you!
ERICA BENTON-GROVER
MY CO-WORKER AKA “COACH” AT WORK ERICA GROVER NEEDS HELP BADLY!!!
She is a MOM, Friend, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, Niece, the list goes on…plus she served our country for 8 years. She has been a leader in all that she has done since serving this country. Sadly….in May 2014 she found out that she has breast cancer. SHE HAS STAGE 4 BREAST CANCER.
It is a slow growing cancer; however the treatment plan is long and expensive. She immediately switched her diet to a completely holistic and all natural one. She is fighting the cancer with a very high alkaline, all natural diet in addition to specialized supplements until the Doctors think it will be time to do surgery and/or radiation. She is in a lot of pain and needs a vehicle to get back and forth to the doctor and hospital. She has three children; two still at home with her a daughter 16 and her son 9.
She served this country for 8 years in the Army and is a fighter by nature but as you can imagine Insurance does not pay for healthy alternatives to assist with treatment. Her all natural diet is very expensive and she needs help, although like all strong people asking for help is not easy. She is such a strong, independent, private soldier and like many of our soldiers will respond to a crisis quietly and may remain silent in their own fight. Erica came into work a couple of weeks ago and said they took her car. She couldn't afford it any more with all the expenses.
I am asking for help for her as I work next to her every day and I see the struggle with it all and the daily tears of her internal battle with all sorts of feelings. I just can't stand it any longer. I am reaching out to the world and to people and organizations that God is working through.
She is a MOM, Friend, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, Niece, the list goes on…plus she served our country for 8 years. She has been a leader in all that she has done since serving this country. Sadly….in May 2014 she found out that she has breast cancer. SHE HAS STAGE 4 BREAST CANCER.
It is a slow growing cancer; however the treatment plan is long and expensive. She immediately switched her diet to a completely holistic and all natural one. She is fighting the cancer with a very high alkaline, all natural diet in addition to specialized supplements until the Doctors think it will be time to do surgery and/or radiation. She is in a lot of pain and needs a vehicle to get back and forth to the doctor and hospital. She has three children; two still at home with her a daughter 16 and her son 9.
She served this country for 8 years in the Army and is a fighter by nature but as you can imagine Insurance does not pay for healthy alternatives to assist with treatment. Her all natural diet is very expensive and she needs help, although like all strong people asking for help is not easy. She is such a strong, independent, private soldier and like many of our soldiers will respond to a crisis quietly and may remain silent in their own fight. Erica came into work a couple of weeks ago and said they took her car. She couldn't afford it any more with all the expenses.
I am asking for help for her as I work next to her every day and I see the struggle with it all and the daily tears of her internal battle with all sorts of feelings. I just can't stand it any longer. I am reaching out to the world and to people and organizations that God is working through.
HANNAH WELCH
Spc Hannah Welch is a drilling reservist that has served her country well. As an aircraft structural repairer she was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 in one of the most austere locations in theatre. While there her family assisted in the care of her children. After her return to CONUS, she continued to attend training assemblies with her unit.
On a Sunday evening following her weekend duty she stopped to get gas on her 2-hour commute home. While paying the fuel attendant her car was stolen. Several days later the vehicle was found and impounded. She was contacted by KCMO authorities only to have to pay nearly 300 dollars to get the vehicle released from impound and another 300 dollars to have it towed to her home in Marshall, MO. The vehicle had been involved in a high speed chase and when it arrived they found they had paid for a severely disabled vehicle no longer capable of serving its needs.
Spc Welch is currently without a vehicle with no resources available to get one. Raising two kids she has found it difficult to save money or acquire financing. Amazingly, she always finds a ride to attend her unit training assemblies. She could just as easy refuse to show up, however, she is committed to serving her nation and performing superbly as an aircraft structures repairer. In addition to her reserve duty, Spc Welch maintains two jobs to make enough income to feed and care for her family. An operational vehicle would ease her stress and assist in caring for her and her children. We would love to be involved in presenting her a gently used vehicle and any other gifts possible to assist her family for the holidays. My contact information is listed above. Regards, CW5 Michael D. Walsh, Commanding
KRISTIE HATCHER
I am nominating Kristie Hatcher for a Car 4 Christmas. Kristie has had a rough life from the start- growing up in foster care since the age of 8. She has three small children ages 3,2,1 and her youngest has a condition called Tubular Sclerosis. Kristie is a fabulous mom. I am in their home weekly providing Occupational Therapy services for her son. She does not have a car currently. If she were picked for this, I know that it would greatly improve her life as well as take away a lot of worry.
She has many doctor appointments for her son and finding a ride is sometimes difficult. Kristie also was attending college, but recently had to quit due to lack of transportation. She was crushed by this as she feels that this was the means to the end of her living in poverty. She would gladly ride the bus, but her current apartment is about 1.5 miles from the nearest bus stop and the road has no sidewalks to walk on. Keeping her three young children safe is of utmost importance and it is difficult for her to walk on a busy road with no sidewalks to get to the bus. Due to growing up in and out of different foster homes, she has no family to call on for assistance or support. She feels as if she is a prisoner in her own home. A car would greatly change things for her. She has daycare lined up for her three children and really wants to get a job to earn extra income as well as finish college. At this point, she is unable to do all of these things since she does not have a car.
Kristie Hatcher is extremely driven and is attempting to break the cycle by graduating from college and pursuing a career. I can think of no one more deserving than her to receive this gift. I myself have laid up at night worrying about her and brainstorming on ways of how I can personally help her to get out of the current situation that she is in. All she wants is a future for her children. This is remarkable to me since she was never modeled this behavior in her own childhood. Please please
please consider her for a car for Christmas. I know that she would be so appreciative and would use it for its intended purpose.
This would open up so many doors for the future of her and her children. She would be a huge success story for your charity. I have been working with children with special needs and their families for the last 14 years and it is rare to come across a mom as dedicated as Kristie. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering this application.
She has many doctor appointments for her son and finding a ride is sometimes difficult. Kristie also was attending college, but recently had to quit due to lack of transportation. She was crushed by this as she feels that this was the means to the end of her living in poverty. She would gladly ride the bus, but her current apartment is about 1.5 miles from the nearest bus stop and the road has no sidewalks to walk on. Keeping her three young children safe is of utmost importance and it is difficult for her to walk on a busy road with no sidewalks to get to the bus. Due to growing up in and out of different foster homes, she has no family to call on for assistance or support. She feels as if she is a prisoner in her own home. A car would greatly change things for her. She has daycare lined up for her three children and really wants to get a job to earn extra income as well as finish college. At this point, she is unable to do all of these things since she does not have a car.
Kristie Hatcher is extremely driven and is attempting to break the cycle by graduating from college and pursuing a career. I can think of no one more deserving than her to receive this gift. I myself have laid up at night worrying about her and brainstorming on ways of how I can personally help her to get out of the current situation that she is in. All she wants is a future for her children. This is remarkable to me since she was never modeled this behavior in her own childhood. Please please
please consider her for a car for Christmas. I know that she would be so appreciative and would use it for its intended purpose.
This would open up so many doors for the future of her and her children. She would be a huge success story for your charity. I have been working with children with special needs and their families for the last 14 years and it is rare to come across a mom as dedicated as Kristie. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering this application.
MELISSA GASTON
Melissa Gaston is a mother that needs a car for Christmas. Her fiancé and she were saving up to buy a car in January so that Melissa would have better job opportunities in her field as a At Home Caregiver and be able to take her 13 year old son to wrestling, Boy Scouts, and school on cold days.
Unfortunately, Melissa's fiancé Jason Hurst passed away suddenly on Sunday 11/23/2014 from heart failure while at work. Now instead of using the money they saved for the car, Melissa will have to spend it on the funeral and Jason's final bills. All extra money will be going towards taking on Jason's part of the bills, so now Melissa will not be able to save up for a car in the future.
Giving her a car would allow her to save money on taxi cab fares and give her more free time to spend with her son. It would also assist her in finding better work, leading to providing a better life for her son and herself.
Please help Melissa Gaston this Christmas by providing her with the means to create a better life for herself now that her fiancé has passed away.
Unfortunately, Melissa's fiancé Jason Hurst passed away suddenly on Sunday 11/23/2014 from heart failure while at work. Now instead of using the money they saved for the car, Melissa will have to spend it on the funeral and Jason's final bills. All extra money will be going towards taking on Jason's part of the bills, so now Melissa will not be able to save up for a car in the future.
Giving her a car would allow her to save money on taxi cab fares and give her more free time to spend with her son. It would also assist her in finding better work, leading to providing a better life for her son and herself.
Please help Melissa Gaston this Christmas by providing her with the means to create a better life for herself now that her fiancé has passed away.
AMY PLANTE
Thank you in advance for your time. My name is Amy, I'm a single mom of one daughter. Recently, my car, a 1990 Honda accord, completely broke down and is unfixable. I've just moved myself and my 3 year old daughter into our own place after years of intense emotional abuse. We were starting a new chapter, and with my car breaking down and no transportation,
I lost my job as a hairstylist. I've been offered a new job at a very busy salon, but am unable to take it until I have reliable transport....... And obviously I can't get transportation until I can make money. It’s a situation I never wanted us to be in. So, in short, I'm asking if C4C has any interest in somehow helping me, I know it’s a long shot, but I'm willing to do whatever I can to ensure a good life for my daughter.
About 2 years ago, I myself was diagnosed with lupus. I've been struggling daily with pain, fatigue and all that comes with the diagnosis, but I keep pushing on for myself and my kiddo. I didn't let lupus stop me, and I won't let my current vehicle situation. Stop me either! I want to show my daughter that through all adversity, you can overcome. Please consider us as worthy for this huge gift. It will change mine and my daughter’s life.
God bless you. Amy Plante.
HANNAH HEIM
The last two years have been beyond difficult. At just 21 years old, she has had to experience life well beyond her years. Her father committed suicide, she did not have a place to live, she had to battle a step parent for what her father left her and lost several jobs due to not having reliable transportation.
Since losing her father to suicide two years ago, she has bounced around between friends' houses to keep a roof over her head. She enrolled in Beauty School even though she did not have a car to get to and from school.
Most days she walked or occasionally would get a ride from friends. After completing school Hannah has not been able to keep a job because she has been unable to consistently get to work. She is currently working however, without reliable transportation this job too is in jeopardy.
Hannah is determined to make something of herself and just needs a little help to get her on her way. A reliable car would provide her the means to keep a job and be able to pursue not only a job but also a career.
Since losing her father to suicide two years ago, she has bounced around between friends' houses to keep a roof over her head. She enrolled in Beauty School even though she did not have a car to get to and from school.
Most days she walked or occasionally would get a ride from friends. After completing school Hannah has not been able to keep a job because she has been unable to consistently get to work. She is currently working however, without reliable transportation this job too is in jeopardy.
Hannah is determined to make something of herself and just needs a little help to get her on her way. A reliable car would provide her the means to keep a job and be able to pursue not only a job but also a career.
LAVONNE MATLOCK
Hello my name is Karimana Matlock I'm submitting this for my hero everyday my mother at age 16 ago I was diagnosed with Lupus, and several other chronic health issues my mother which is a single parent of 3 also takes care of my sister who has ADHD& AUTISM, AND my 10 year old brother just recently diagnosed with Trenches syndrome and he is have seizures, with this my mother has worked very hard and is a hard worker and always puts our medical needs before anything and is having a very rough time keeping up with bills and rent and we have no transportation to get me back in fourth to KU medical and to the Romatologist in Kansas City and now having to get my brother to the neurologist at Children's Mercy.
She has continued to use every dime she has to pay for my prescription she spends her whole check and this causes her to get behind but she tells me everything will be OK and not to worry my health is far more important. I can see this running her down she will be 40 on Dec 6 and we'll it's just makes me tear up to know I can't help her and she tries to use all resources, but they only helped once. I really need and want this for her to let her know how much me and my siblings love her and appreciate what she does for us not to many mom's that will she's a assume lady helps everybody and sometimes. We don't have much food and she will still help others if they hungry as I am unsure at this time and fighting a disability claim so the state won't give me health insurance to cover my Dr apps and prescription until a determination has been made my mother Lavonne is a hero every day and makes unbelievable sacrifice for us and on top of everything else.
She was in a car wreck in may which she has suffered memory loss and she had to resign from her career as a case manager and lost all her benefits now she's working a job in Lawrence at a call center to stay afloat and she has to car pool which is OK but she has appointment and has no one to get her around or us so it is very hard on her but through the struggles she maintain a smile and doesn't complain but I see the hurting in her eyes and I hear her praying at night for a miracle to happen she was in nursing school until but because she has to help me she was unable to finish and the bus schedule she would be able to get home unless she walked even if nothing else just wanted to nominate her because she is well deserving of this also thank you all for listening and this is a good thing from the heart you all are doing just please help if you can Karimana and you can call me Anna
She has continued to use every dime she has to pay for my prescription she spends her whole check and this causes her to get behind but she tells me everything will be OK and not to worry my health is far more important. I can see this running her down she will be 40 on Dec 6 and we'll it's just makes me tear up to know I can't help her and she tries to use all resources, but they only helped once. I really need and want this for her to let her know how much me and my siblings love her and appreciate what she does for us not to many mom's that will she's a assume lady helps everybody and sometimes. We don't have much food and she will still help others if they hungry as I am unsure at this time and fighting a disability claim so the state won't give me health insurance to cover my Dr apps and prescription until a determination has been made my mother Lavonne is a hero every day and makes unbelievable sacrifice for us and on top of everything else.
She was in a car wreck in may which she has suffered memory loss and she had to resign from her career as a case manager and lost all her benefits now she's working a job in Lawrence at a call center to stay afloat and she has to car pool which is OK but she has appointment and has no one to get her around or us so it is very hard on her but through the struggles she maintain a smile and doesn't complain but I see the hurting in her eyes and I hear her praying at night for a miracle to happen she was in nursing school until but because she has to help me she was unable to finish and the bus schedule she would be able to get home unless she walked even if nothing else just wanted to nominate her because she is well deserving of this also thank you all for listening and this is a good thing from the heart you all are doing just please help if you can Karimana and you can call me Anna
LEAH ESCOBAR
My brother in law served our country proudly for 16 years with my sister and their three children by his side. He fought proudly and without complaint through several deployments, including his deployment to Iraq where his brother Sgt Travis an MP stationed out of Ft Lewis, was killed in action only 20 miles from where Justin was stationed in Baghdad. He was one of the first Missourians to be lost in the Iraqi war.
In 2010 Justin was in Afghanistan when a rocket hit his location. He was on a mission with several others. Some died that day, and some, like Justin, were severely injured. The blast hit not far from where he stood. Another soldier was standing in front of him and caught most of the shrapnel, but the concussion threw him back into a wall where his skull was cracked. Since then, he has suffered with speech and vision problems, short term memory loss, and debilitating migraines that affect him three or four days a week. He tried to stay in the Army and seek treatment, but they decided his injury was severe enough that he could no longer do his job.
Since then he and his family moved to Columbia, Mo from Ft. Bragg as Missouri is their home of record, and Columbia provides access to the VA hospital and where he hoped he would find employment. The Army awarded him 50%, but they only evaluated the head injury, as that was what prevented him from doing his job. 50% is the maximum amount that can be awarded for that condition. Now he is going through the process with the VA to have all his other injuries evaluated, including what the doctors’ say will be extensive surgeries on his shoulders, knee injuries, and complications from Malaria that he got while in Haiti on a humanitarian aid mission. While he and his family tried to prepare for the transition to civilian life, it has been incredibly hard.
He has not been able to find a job to accommodate his injuries or appointments with the VA, and my sister found a job with the Department of Corrections, but being a state job, she had to wait 30 days to receive a paycheck. After being unemployed a few months, their bills fell behind. They have sold off almost everything they own to provide for their children until they could get caught up. They have dealt with utility disconnections, an eviction notice and now, today, my brother in law's truck was repossessed. This was his most prized possession and he is devastated.
He fought so hard for so long to serve his country to be pushed out with no way to care for his family. His retirement cut their income by 75%. They are such good, hard working people, and now they have lost the only vehicle they have. Without a vehicle, they cannot make it to his VA appointments, and my sister won't be able to make it to her job at the prison in Moberly.
On top of all they have been through, they took in me and my son when we were in a very bad situation, and I've been trying to find a way to help them in any way that I can.
Tonight is the first time I have seen them start to lose hope. They now have to choose whether to use my sister's first check to pay rent to avoid eviction, or get the truck back so she has a way to get to work and so he can get medical treatment.
If there is any way at all you guys can help, there isn't anyone in this world who deserves it more. These are the kind of people that have always helped anyone in need and never asked for anything at all in return. Now they are the ones that need help for the first time in 16 years and no one has stepped up to help at all. It truly breaks my heart.
In 2010 Justin was in Afghanistan when a rocket hit his location. He was on a mission with several others. Some died that day, and some, like Justin, were severely injured. The blast hit not far from where he stood. Another soldier was standing in front of him and caught most of the shrapnel, but the concussion threw him back into a wall where his skull was cracked. Since then, he has suffered with speech and vision problems, short term memory loss, and debilitating migraines that affect him three or four days a week. He tried to stay in the Army and seek treatment, but they decided his injury was severe enough that he could no longer do his job.
Since then he and his family moved to Columbia, Mo from Ft. Bragg as Missouri is their home of record, and Columbia provides access to the VA hospital and where he hoped he would find employment. The Army awarded him 50%, but they only evaluated the head injury, as that was what prevented him from doing his job. 50% is the maximum amount that can be awarded for that condition. Now he is going through the process with the VA to have all his other injuries evaluated, including what the doctors’ say will be extensive surgeries on his shoulders, knee injuries, and complications from Malaria that he got while in Haiti on a humanitarian aid mission. While he and his family tried to prepare for the transition to civilian life, it has been incredibly hard.
He has not been able to find a job to accommodate his injuries or appointments with the VA, and my sister found a job with the Department of Corrections, but being a state job, she had to wait 30 days to receive a paycheck. After being unemployed a few months, their bills fell behind. They have sold off almost everything they own to provide for their children until they could get caught up. They have dealt with utility disconnections, an eviction notice and now, today, my brother in law's truck was repossessed. This was his most prized possession and he is devastated.
He fought so hard for so long to serve his country to be pushed out with no way to care for his family. His retirement cut their income by 75%. They are such good, hard working people, and now they have lost the only vehicle they have. Without a vehicle, they cannot make it to his VA appointments, and my sister won't be able to make it to her job at the prison in Moberly.
On top of all they have been through, they took in me and my son when we were in a very bad situation, and I've been trying to find a way to help them in any way that I can.
Tonight is the first time I have seen them start to lose hope. They now have to choose whether to use my sister's first check to pay rent to avoid eviction, or get the truck back so she has a way to get to work and so he can get medical treatment.
If there is any way at all you guys can help, there isn't anyone in this world who deserves it more. These are the kind of people that have always helped anyone in need and never asked for anything at all in return. Now they are the ones that need help for the first time in 16 years and no one has stepped up to help at all. It truly breaks my heart.
JILL THOMAS
We are a family of 5.we got in to really hard times where we weren't able to pay our bills. We lost the heat to the house lost our cars almost lost our electricity a number of times. We slowly are getting back on our feet to better our family. It's become winter and we still can't afford a car we have been sharing our sister’s car for my husband to get to work and kids to get to school or we find rides. We never ask for help feel like others need it more than us but we really need this. So I’m asking for help. Please consider us. We would be truly grateful
KATHRYN ESPINOZA
My name is Rebecca DuPree and I live it St. Louis. I have a family friend that lives in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. She has 4 kids ages 17 to 5. She also is working and putting herself through nursing school.
Something bad has happened to her a few day ago. She just had her only car stolen and in it was all her kids Christmas gift and school books in it. She has little money and now has no car and no Christmas for her kids. The car was stripped. Please is there any way you all can help her family. Please! She has worked hard her whole life.
Something bad has happened to her a few day ago. She just had her only car stolen and in it was all her kids Christmas gift and school books in it. She has little money and now has no car and no Christmas for her kids. The car was stripped. Please is there any way you all can help her family. Please! She has worked hard her whole life.
MICHELLE JONES
SHELLY RIDGE
I am a single mother of a 2 yr old daughter and a 6 year old son. I've been out of work since June 2014. I just started a new job this week. Last night, my children and I wore in a pretty bad car accident and our vehicle was totalled. Luckily were all ok but now I'm without transportation for work.
Please help us. My children will have no Christmas this year.
Please help us. My children will have no Christmas this year.
CHERI ANDERSON
Well, to make a long story short, Cheri has been a single mother since she was 17 yrs. old. It has not been an easy task for her. She did however stay in school and got her high school diploma. She also went on to get her Medical Assistant degree at Concorde Career College. We are very proud of her for that. She worked as a Medical Assistant for 15 years. She has had a bit of bad luck the past couple of years. Cheri lost her job then lost her home all in the same year. She has not been able to find work.
Cheri and her boys are currently living in separate homes. She lives with a friend, one of the boys lives with me and the other with a friend. It kind of had to be this way so that they have a ride to work among other things. To top off all of her bad luck...her car was stolen out of the driveway last Friday at 4:30 am. This is one of the reasons for this letter to Cars4christmas. I think that Cheri getting the wonderful gift of a car could help her tremendously to get out there and find a job so that she can get a home so her and her boys can be a family once again.
Cheri and her boys are currently living in separate homes. She lives with a friend, one of the boys lives with me and the other with a friend. It kind of had to be this way so that they have a ride to work among other things. To top off all of her bad luck...her car was stolen out of the driveway last Friday at 4:30 am. This is one of the reasons for this letter to Cars4christmas. I think that Cheri getting the wonderful gift of a car could help her tremendously to get out there and find a job so that she can get a home so her and her boys can be a family once again.
TAMARA PREWITT
Tamara is the mother of four children. Their names Avyon Murray (16), Ayshion (15), Curtis Johnson(11) and Miriah Johnson (9). She is currently working at Parkway Health Center as a dietary aide.
In order to get to work, she has to walk several miles, because the bus system doesn’t
offer service early enough to get her there. In the evening, her bus commute takes over 2 hours. Tamara says that having a car means she can be there when her children leave for school and return early enough to make them dinner. It also means that she can reach one of her children if there were an emergency during the day. Finally, it means that she won’t have to worry about walking to work in winter snow and ice. “Owning a car would change my life!”
In order to get to work, she has to walk several miles, because the bus system doesn’t
offer service early enough to get her there. In the evening, her bus commute takes over 2 hours. Tamara says that having a car means she can be there when her children leave for school and return early enough to make them dinner. It also means that she can reach one of her children if there were an emergency during the day. Finally, it means that she won’t have to worry about walking to work in winter snow and ice. “Owning a car would change my life!”
