I am unfortunately turning to you because I desperately need help. This year has been what seems like a bad year for everyone, and my family is no exception. My husband is a truck driver, and we both work very hard to provide for our family. However, in February, he was ran off the road by a drunk driver and completely totaled his truck. Since the drunk driver only stuck around long enough to see if my husband was okay, he lost his job. We live paycheck to paycheck and that was a devastating blow and we have been trying to catch up ever since. My husband found another job hauling grain in July, but was laid off two weeks ago. He has fortunately found a new job, but there's always a gap from when you get your first paycheck. I am still working everyday, but we are struggling just to survive, let alone being able to provide Christmas. I have a son who is 8 and a daughter who is 6. My daughter has been through hell and back. We found out 2 years ago she has kidney reflux. It is a condition in which urine backflows into the kidneys causing some pretty bad infections. She has been hospitalized several times with excruciating pain and horrific infections and we have been told that one of her kidneys are pretty bad looking still, and she still might be in jeopardy of losing it or facing invasive surgery if it continues to stay at the level it's at. Although she has been through more than I could probably handle as an adult, she is the funniest and strongest little girls I know. She always smiles and can make you laugh no matter how bad your day has been. That is the main reason why I am so upset about Christmas. She still believes in Santa, although my son doesn't, and I would hate for her to find out there is no Santa because mommy and daddy couldn't buy any presents. She has said this year all she wants is new clothes. She only has 2 pairs of pants that don't have holes in the knees, she has no long sleeve shirts and her coat doesn't zip. We try our hardest to provide for them, but it has been really hard this year making ends meet. To make matters worse, since we have been playing catch up, I found out today that I have to pay our entire daycare bill of almost $900 on or before Friday 12/18 or we will lose our daycare. If that happens, I have no idea what we will do since we have no where else for them to go. We are already late on our rent and can't afford to take off work because we have no daycare. I understand there is no shortage of families needing help, and this city is very lucky to have a group of people like yourselves to care as much as you do. I just hope to let my daughter hang on to her childhood as much as possible, and any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Mary
How We Helped
Helped with Daycare
Gas Bill
1 Month Rent
$500 Wal-Mart Card
$500 Gift Card from Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Who Helped
Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Steve
Marshall
Brian
Joyce
Jack
Mike
Sean
Nick
Stephanie
Heather
Jennifer
Justin
Natasha
Jack
Jeff
Bob
12.17.09
Dear Johnny and Morning Show -
First of all...you guys are simply the best - and whether you can or can't help, the morning show always puts a smile on my face. My husband is a flooring installer and we have struggled all year. Work has been off and on...and unfortunately my husband blew 2 discs out of his back...but continued tow ork when there was work, just so we could make ends meet. It came to a point where our doctor said surgery was our only option, so he had the surgery on Tuesday December 8th. I had went back to school May of 2008, graduated in December and just found a good job this week. Due to slow work and the surgery, I just don't know how we're gonna make it. Our bills are stacking up, and what's most important is that we have 3 children...11, 7 and 5. They are so excited about Christmas and I have NO idea what I'm going to do for them...I have just started a job and won't receive a check til after Christmas, and their father is recovering from the surgery and can't return to the job for almost 8 weeks. We just need a hand up to make it through the season. I simply need a miracle. You are my last hope. I mentioned to my husband that I was going to try and email you and he said there are peopel out there far worse than us, but I look at my kids and it breaks my heart that they will be let down by us and realize there is no Santa. I can cancel certain things or have things shut of, but my kids learning there is no Santa at this young age...that can never be fixed. I just don't want them to learn life's difficulties so soon. If there is any way you can help, I would be eternally grateful. Thank you so much and Merry Christmas.
Brandy
How We Helped
Took care of 2 months back mortgage, electric and water bill
$300 Wal- Mart gift card for kids
Who Helped
Joel
Dick
Keith
Amanda
Aaron
Mike
John
Mike
Dustin
Marcus
Ron
Travis
Aaron
Jackie
Chrissy
Stephanie
Eric
Gabby
Lenny
Justin
John
David
Jake
Lisa
12.16.09
Dear Johnny and Crew:
I know there is no shortage of need for many families this year, as times are really tough for most. I also know that a few friends have written on my behalf to ask for Christmas assistance for my 5 children. However, I'm writing for a different reason. My husband was diagnosed 3 years ago, at the age of 35, with stage 4 lung cancer that had spread to his brain. For 2 1/2 years, we made week long trips to Tulsa,OK for his chemo and radiation, due to the expertise they offered for his type of cancer. These trips were just my husband and I, while friends and family members helped raise our children in our absence. Our children, at that time, were ages 2,5,7,10 and 12. We spent a lot of time away from them, all in hopes of my husband beating cancer. Johnny, he was young, strong, a hard worker, good provider, and a great dad and husband. We were convinced he would come out victorious in his battle. Every time we'd get good news and have a month away from his treatments, new scans would show the cancer had grown and spread. In March of this year, we ran out of options for him... We had tried all types of chemo, maxed out on the allowed amount of radiation...all the things that should have worked for him, didn't. My husband was put on hospice, in our home, on Nov. 16th of this year. By this time, he'd lost 100 pounds. His brain was so infected with cancerous tumors, that half the time he didn't recognize our children or me. One lung, where the cancer had started, was no longer functioning. He was so weak that he wasn't able to leave the hospital bed that he was in in our home. His breathing rattled loudly and even our kids would pause to make sure that the rattling continued, as that was a sign that he was still with us. In short, he was a mere shadow of the man he once was. Johnny, my husband lost his battle with cancer this past Saturday, December 12, surrounded by a few close friends and family members in our home. This is something I will never forget. While I'm grateful to have been with him up until his last breath, his death has caused more financial strain than I could've imagined. Upon his death, we discovered his life insurance policy has lapsed due to him being unable to work these past 6 months because of his illness. I've been unemployed, taking care of him, since this summer. Now, my children and I are left with trying to fulfill his wishes of a funeral with a burial near his grandmother, but have very limited finances due to this extended lack of income. Any help you could give us, would be greatly appreciated!
Best wishes, and happy holidays,
Sarah
How We Helped Took care of burial price
$1000 Wal-Mart gift card
$500 Cosentino's Grocery Store gift card
Who Helped Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Nathan
Jeremy
Marty
Renee
Susa
Katy
Chris
Scott
Dusty
David
Tyler
John
Charlie
Jonathon
Damien
Bill
Mike
Dave
12.15.09
Hi, I am so sorry to bother you, this is a bit hard to do because we would rather be the ones out there helping others instead of asking for it so this brings me close to crying while trying to write this letter but here it goes. My husband and I both work only I just returned back to work after a resent surgrey to help me walk, see I was born with club feet and my lower leg bones cruved to were the doctors said I would never walk with out surgrey. I have had over a dozen surgreys to make it possible to walk and I am very thankful for all the help I have gotten form the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children but I am now 28 too old for their help. But its not my legs or anything really for me that I am asking for but for my family. We have 4 kids, a son who is 11, daughters ages 7, 6 and 1. I just returned to work so we havent any money to get the lay a way christmas presents out in time for christmas like we had hoped because our money is all tied up in bills including my medicail bills. I feel so bad that I have let my family down I thought I was strong enough to return back to work early against what the doc said I went a head and put the gifts on lay a way because if I was to return to work at the time I thought I was ready then we could of gotten them out but we found that was a mistake and now it sits there, $310.00. Of course we could get them out later but it would be after christmas and it kills me that me, my legs (I should never of gotten the surgrey I should of expected this and put it off, I was just in so much pain and has so much trouble walking, I should of been stronger)would get in the way like this. My husband works so hard just to pay the bills, he has asked for nothing just for the kids to have a christmas. I do have another issue the car has become very hard to drive in this weather because of the tries, the car is fine but the tries, they are smooth and old and 2 of them keep going low on us but the tries are too much money we cant get new ones, we tried to find used ones but no one has this size used only new. I am afraid of wreaking the only car we have to get the kids to school (their school doesnt have busing) and us to work. I know I am asking alot but if some one had some used tries that would fit our car that would be wounderful. I am so sorry again but I wouldnt ask if it was just me, but my family needs help, Sorry and thank you for reading this.
Thank you,
Josie
How We Helped Tires for car
Got Christmas presents out of lay away
$500 Gift Card from Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Who Helped Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Amy
Charlie
Dave
Dan
12.14.09
Johnny:
I am writing to you because I need some help. I have two wonderful girls, for the last 4 years they get to choose the one gift they want for Christmas. (as long as it is not too much) and every year they don't complain. It breaks my heart not being able to get them more. This year I don't know that I can even get them one. I am a single mother and like so many others I got my hours cut at work. We moved into a cheaper house but I am still struggling with the bills. A month ago I took my daughter to the doctor and they found some lumps in her throat. They did an ultrasound but wanted a better look so they sent us to get a CTscan. The doctor told us it could be cancer or swollen glands because she tested positive for mono and strep throat. She had these knots before this. Anyway he told us to come back in a month. I called Childrens mercy hospital and talked to a nurse down there. She was very nice and spent a total of an hour on the phone with me. She told me they could not get her in until February. She called me back and said that they would like to look at her reports and if they saw a need to see her sooner they would let me know. Her records were faxed last week and within 2 hours they called and said they wanted to see her Dec 22. I'm a little freaked out. She is 16 and beautiful she is a straight A student and she wants to be a surgeon. I am trying to keep positive because she needs me to, But most of the time I could fall apart. So to make a long story short we will find out 3 days before Christmas whether or not she has cancer. Johnny more than anything I would like to be able to give her a good Christmas. I don't need much just enough to get her a gift. She is my baby and the thought of her having to deal with this is killing me. I know there are people that need help more than me but I would like to give my baby girl a present for Christmas. I'll understand if you can't help and I thank you for listening and everything you do.
Sheila
How We Helped Took care of electric bill, gas bill and rent
$400 Wal-Mart Card
Who Helped
Jeff Harville Agency (American Family Insurance)
Damage Control Bar & Grill
Local Band Black Ribbon Sky
Daniel
Jessica
Jessica & Ryan McDonald
Tammy
Chris
12.10.09
Dear Johnny Dare:
I am asking for a hand up this Christmas for my 3 kids ages 2, 5 and 8. Their mom past away suddenly last year. She past in her sleep shortly after I went to work that morning. I have always been able to provide for them on only my income until this year. The company I worked for closed down in march, I did find another job and I make enough to cover all my bills even thought I have to work as much over time as I can to buy food for my kids. I don't know how will be able to get them anything for Christmas. I know there are others in KC that need help more then I do but it would be nice with all that has happened to us for the kids to be happy Christmas morning to see presents from Santa under the tree. My 8 year old son made his Christmas list last week and the only thing he said he wanted was a Nintendo DS for his dad so we can play together. We set the tree up tonight and my 5 yr old only wanted to put pictures of her mom on the tree and said all she wanted for Christmas was to see her mommy again. The baby just had fun taking what few ornaments I got off the tree. I'm not asking for much just a little for my children, if KC can find it in there hearts to give me a hand up this holiday season for my kids I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you Morning show for taking the time to read this, have a merry Christmas.
Chris
How We Helped $400 Wal-Mart Card
Nintendo DS
$500 Gift Card from Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Who Helped
Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Rachel
Erin
Jacob
Stan
Karen (Donated Nintendo DS)
Adrian
Eric
Brian
Jennifer
Danny
12.9.09
Dear Johnny Dare:
I'm a single mom of 4 wonderful kids. But the reason I'm writing you is for my son. He is 11 years old and he is the sweetest kid you could ever imagine. He has a heart of gold and he always puts others before himself. In October at his annual eye exam the doctor discovered a problem with his left eye. He had no vision and the retina was completely detached. He had emergency surgery at Childrens Mercy Hospital to reattach the retina. That’s when he was diagnosed with Coats Disease. He will have to have at least one more surgery and if the disease progresses he could lose his left eye. He has done remarkably well, all things considered. All of this happened in the middle of Football season. He was a center linebacker and they were undefeated. After his surgery he continued to go to every practice and game though he couldn't play. His team remained undefeated and won the regional Super Bowl. One night my son told me he is too ashamed to look at the trophy at school. So many times he does not want to worry me. When he out grew his new jeans this school year, he just wore them anyway (unbuttoned) [He will be sooooo embarrassed that I told anyone.] He didn't want to worry me about having to buy new jeans again. And that has added to my guilt and worry that he did the same with his eye sight. The doctor said this has been progressing for several years. His sisters, 9, 4 and 2 years old, all have long lists of what they would like to have for Christmas. My son tells me I don't have to spend money on him. That he knows I can't afford to buy much. It breaks my heart that he's so grown up. I've tried to not let any of them know how difficult things are right now. I'm hoping for him to have the best Christmas ever since this year has been so hard for him. Thank you for your consideration and your time to read this. May you all have a wonderful holiday season!!!
Stephanie
How We Helped Took care of bank overdraft
$800 Wal-Mart Card
Playstation 3
Who Helped Ty
Wendy
Mike
Darren
Noel
Lindsey
JD
Billy
Ryan
Jeff (PreferreD Lawn Service)
David
Chris
Mike
Kelly
Josh
Jonathan (Best Buy)
12.8.09
Dear Johnny:
We have been listeners of your show for a long time. We live in the Topeka area so I am not sure if you can help or not. I've listened to your show where you give a hand up to people at Christmas. We are in need of a little help if possible. We are a family of 6 (my husband, myself, three girls and a boy) trying to make it on one salary. I know we are lucky that my husband has a job but his checks can only go so far. The older girls have been looking for jobs but have had no luck as both are in high school and have to work around school. Our son, who is 14 suffers from severe diabetes and the doctors have been unable to regulate him going on 4 years now. I did have a job but lost it due to his numerous hospitalizations and his constant care. He is currently on home-bound services instead of being able to go to school. Due to his illness he is on several different types of insulin, medicine for depression, and medicine for stomach problems that have developed as a result of the diabetes. This does not include the cost of his diabetic testing supplies, the test strips, needles, etc. The cost is staggering. Now his Dr's are wanting us to go out of state to see more doctors. We are currently 2 months behind on our car payment and a third will be coming due soon. This is the only car we have to get my husband to and from work and our son to his doctor appointments, so we need to get this amount paid or we could lose it. We are behind on our cable bill, if it was for TV only we would disconnect it ourselves, but we have the Internet and phone attached to it also. I use email/phone to communicate with his Dr's. and my kids need the Internet for their school work. This is our only phone as we do not have cell phones. The utility bills we were able to make payment arrangements but the bill has to be paid on time or they will disconnect so there is no room for playing with the budget with the utilities and the medical costs. We then have to decide between food or paying a bill so we try and do what is best at that time. The three older kids know that there will be no Christmas this year and they are great kids as they are ok with that, they would rather any extra money we might be able to spend we use on the three year old as she has discovered Santa and wants a Barbie. My husband works really hard and he never calls in sick even when he is and I am so proud of him but he feels so bad for not being able to give our kids a Christmas. If you are unable to help we understand and thank you for listening. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year.
Lisa
How We Helped
Took care of car payment and phone/cable bill
$500 Wal-Mart Card
Gift Card from Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Who Helped
Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Mark
Adam
Gary
Chris
Shawn
David
Bill
Mike
Smile
Kelly
Frank
Justin
Becca
Jordan
12.4.09
Dear Johnny:
This is such a wonderful thing that you and Kansas City is doing for the people that just need a little help for the holidays. This year has been really hard for me and my 3 kids. I found out 6mo ago that i have cancer. This has been a very scary time for me. You never think how lucky you are to be alive and have a family until they tell you you might not make it. My kids mean the world to me and I wish I could give them a good Christmas this year. But all the money I have has been going to pay my doctor bills and trying to keep up on all the rest of the bills that keep slowly falling behind. It kill me that my sickness is stopping me from being able to give them a wonderful Christmas because I don't know how many I might have left with them. They just don't understand why I'm sick and why I have no money to get them anything for Christmas and there birthdays that are right around this time to. I would give anything just to see my kids happy on Christmas.
Thank you and God bless,
Alexis
How We Helped
Took care of rent, water and electric bill
$600 Wal-Mart gift card
$500 gift card for Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Who Helped
Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Midwest Claims & Services (St. Joe)
James
Kathy
Michelle
Bryan
Brad (www.legendaryclothing.com)
John
Ethan
Katie
Tom
Michael
Chassie
Phillip
Sharon
12.3.09
Dear Friends:
First, you guys are so wonderful for the caring things you do for less fortunate families. I am writing because this year, more than ever, I need a hand. I am a single mother to two wonderful children, Madison is 13, and Mason is 6. About this time last year I was struggling with Christmas, but managed to put a few things under the tree for my kids. Then, on Christmas Eve, I was told that the catering company I was working in the office for was closing for good on January 1st. So, I pushed on and fought back my sadness, not letting my kids know what our situation was, not wanting to ruin their Christmas with how I was going to pay the bills. I went out after the kids returned to school and began my search for another job. But 9 days after my job ended, a fire destroyed our house and everything we owned, including the few presents I was able to get last year. It was devastating. Nothing in our home could be recovered. You never realize how hard you have worked to get everything you need until it is all gone, and you have to start over. With some help from the Red Cross, the kid's school, and a friend's church, we were able to find and furnish a home, even though I was still unemployed. In April, I finally found work. I was able to catch everything up, and it appeared we would be fine again. Then in September, more bad news. The company I was working for lost its contract to another vendor. I was out of a job immediately because I was the low man on the pole. My rent alone is $450 per month. My landlord has been kind to us, I've been doing handyman work for him, and he takes money off of rent, and hasn't kicked us out yet, although were behind. I've managed to keep our water on, but our gas and electric fell behind, and I've received disconnect notices. I'm not usually someone who worries, because things usually have a way of working themselves out. But I fear my landlord is going to take action if I don't come up with something. I'm scared. I really don't know what to do. This year has been rough enough for my babies; I just want to give them security for Christmas.
Thank you,
Misty
How We Helped
Took care of rent, gas bill and electric bill
$400 Wal-Mart gift card
$500 gift card from Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Who Helped
Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Clouse & Little Daddy
Christina
Pat
TJ (Oasis Pools)
Chip
Leo (Black Ribbon Sky [band])
Chris
Leigh
Jennifer
Justin
Lisa
Chris
12.2.09
My name is Jennifer and I am writing to ask for a hand up for my family. I can't believe I am writing this. Every year we hear you help families through your show and I never imagined my family would need help. We have had a rough year and now it's about to end like no other I have ever had. My family and I are about to lose our house and it's taking all of our money just to hang onto it month to month. I have two small children age 6yrs and 2yrs and I can't afford to get them Christmas either. It is so hard to tell your children that mommy and daddy can't get them what they need/want. My year started out in February with my oldest son needing surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids. Before they would do his surgery we had to pay the hospital and doctors $1000.00.That wasn't the bad part when we got the bills we soon realized that because the surgery cost so much it used up all of his insurance for the year ($3000.00 max a yr). That left us to pay full price for all doctors' visits and hospital stays till January 2010. Soon after my sons surgery our car started having trouble and we realized we would need a new one. Not having money to buy one out right it left us searching for a used dealership, soon we came across Carmax which was awesome and worked with us on having nothing down and small payments finally things were looking up. On April 17th my oldest son had to go to the doctor because of weird things happening to his body( his tongue was swelled with strawberry like bumps, high fever, whites of his eyes were pink,etc) that day we found out he could possibly have Kawasaki's Disease (Basically swells the blood vessels in the body). After a lot of blood work and such we had to rush him to Children's Mercy and he was admitted on the 19th of April there he stayed 2-3 days and had many many tests (EKG's, blood work, scans,etc). We then found out he was all clear and could go home but he still had all the symptoms and we were left with lots of bills and my husband missing a lot of work due to his illness. This put us behind a month on our mortgage and we just kept trying to catch up but couldn't. In August our mortgage company went bankrupt and didn't tell us of course and we had just made a payment to them. So, needless to say in September when the new company took our account over they didn't receive the payment from August and still to this day haven't (we have faxed the check and the bank statement proving payment) We have never missed mortgage payments in the past but our loan companies are always changing so they only know our credit score not us. This and being a month behind already has caused us to be in foreclosure and we just can't catch up. We are currently trying to get a loan modification through our mortgage company but it's not looking good. If we do not get the loan Mod. Then we will be forced to pay $1,900 plus any month we currently owe. Please help us Johnny we are just trying to make it through this and we need a hand up. God Bless you and Thanks for making hope possible for so many families. And thank you for listening to us as we listen to you.
How We Helped
Kept house from foreclosure
$400 Wal-Mart gift ard
$500 gift card from Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Who Helped
Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Abby
Joani
Carl
Bob (Concrete Creations in St. Joe)
Dan
John
Andy
Chris
Big John
Chris
Doug
11.30.09
Dear Johnny:
For the past 7 years, I've been listening to your show and loving every minute of it. I'm not really a very emotional person, but I seem to always get choked up listening to the letters you read this time of year. I've always been able to provide for my family, although most of the time it is on a week to week basis. That's until this year. I am 48 years old and have been in construction most of my life. I got laid off and have not been able to find steady work...working odd jobs to help make ends meet. I have 3 year old twins, a boy and a girl who were born prematurely. Needless to say, I support March of Dimes as often as I can. My son is autistic, and we have to spend a lot of time taking him to appointments for speech and nutrition therapy...as well as many other appointments. He is a very happy little boy. We have blown through what little savings we had, and are almost 3 months behind on our car payment, as well as some of our utilities. If they repossess the car, I don't know how we'll be able to get Matthew to his appointments. And on top of all of it, Christmas is coming and the kids are finally understanding about Santa Clause. I'm scraping to keep us in food and necessities, while the kids are hoping for something from Santa this year...So far, I don't see it happening. I've never asked for help from anyone, but this year I don't know what else to do. I know there are many deserving families out there that need the help, so if you can't, I completely understand.
God Bless You,
Ken
How We Helped
Took care of car, electric and gas bill
Wal-Mart gift card for kids
$500 gift card for Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Who Helped
Cosentino's Grocery Stores
Colleen
Big Rob
Eric
Connie
Kyle
Cory
Phil
Chris
Don
Renee
Mike
Jennifer
Tonya
Tim
Cole
Joshua
Ty James
