Partner: St. Joseph's Villa

Advisor: Drew Melson

Kiara is a young adult who was recently housed after experiencing almost a year of homelessness. Now that she is in safe and affordable housing, she hopes to continue her education at a local community college and obtain a job to set herself on the path to long-term success. To accomplish her goals, she is requesting assistance for a small, affordable laptop to more easily search for jobs, complete job applications, and participate in remote learning through community college.

Partner: Peter Paul Development Center

Advisor: Sherika Chew

Lorina is struggling to keep up with her bills since being laid off from her job due to COVID-19. She's also encountered a health matter that's making life even more complicated and challenging right now. But, she's a self-proclaimed hard worker and an optimist, who's hopeful things will change – and that life next year will bring her good health and a strong financial future. Lorina enjoys art, being creative, and thrift shopping (when income allows it).

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Groceries. Pamela is a senior citizen who relies on her hours from American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Due to the Pandemic, she hasn't been able to make extra hours, and she has found it hard to fund her healthy food choices due to a health ailment that restricts her diet. She is requesting assistance with groceries. This type of help will mean a lot to Pamela.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Rental Assistance. Wanda is a senior citizen enrolled in our workforce program. Wanda lost her from her job due to COVID. Currently, she is in school, learning basic technology to make herself marketable as she continues to search for work. Wanda is asking for support for rental assistance. She has most of the rent but needs help catching up. This assistance would help Wanda a great deal in December.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Phone Bill. Shannon is a single mother of three. Sharon just returned to work from maternity leave with limited income. Shannon is falling behind with her bills. She is trying to gain employment, take care of her family, and work while being her family's sole provider. Shannon is asking for support to pay her cellphone bill. Her phone is the only means of communication she has to connect with my children and potential employers as she searches for a job.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Groceries. Michael was employed with a major employer in Richmond until he suffered a severe back injury some years ago. Since then, his workers' comp has ended, and he has no income. Mike is waiting on a decision from disability as he is not able to work. He has two kids in college now who are home for the break. He is asking for help with groceries for this month to support them.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Internet Bill for School. Recently, Amanda was let go from her job. Since then, she has enrolled in paralegal classes online. Amanda is requesting help with her internet bill so she can continue classes without interruption.

Partner: Peter Paul Development Center

Advisor: Sherika Chew

Latoya is a CNA and a single mother of four. Her income has been dramatically impacted by the pandemic and she has been doing her best to stay afloat with just the SSI income she receives for her special needs son. Assistance with bill will lift a load from her back and help her breathe just a little bit easier this holiday season.

Partner: Peter Paul Development Center

Advisor: Sherika Chew

Katrina is staying in a hotel currently because of a traumatic event that occurred near her apartment and she does not feel safe to return home with her daughter. She is having a difficult time paying for both the hotel and the apartment but knows that she needs to stay in good standing in order to qualify for better housing. Katrina is a hard working single who is doing her best just to stay afloat. This small gesture will make all the difference to her family as they navigate this difficult situation over the holiday.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with a Utility Bill. Mary is a senior citizen who has been laid off since the beginning of COVID. She lives on a limited income and needs one of her household appliances repaired. Mary also has several bills that are past due. She is requesting assistance with paying one of her utility bills to allow her room in the budget to get her refrigerator repaired.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Hep with Groceries. Niqua is an enrolled participant the Office of Community Wealth Building's Workforce Program (OCWB). She was laid off from her job as a Security Guard due to the pandemic and worked with her OCWB Career Advisor to secure employment. Recently, Niqua was called back to work in, but her bills have fallen behind. At this time, Niqua is requesting support with groceries until she can catch up on some of her accounts.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Car Insurance. Sheila is a participant in the Office of Community Wealth Building's Workforce Program and Title V program. Currently, she unemployed and seeking part-time opportunities through AARP. Sheila participates in online workshops in this COVID-19 environment. Sheila needs help paying for her car insurance as she has no income. This would be a great help to Sheila.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Utility Bill. Mary fell behind financially due to the pandemic once her part-time job furloughed her. She recently has picked up extra hours doing grocery deliveries for InstaCart, so she is starting to catch up on financial responsibilities. She is requesting assistance with her Amerigas account.

Partner: IRC

Advisor: Sharon Singer

Mary arrived in the U.S. from Venezuela this summer. Fleeing horrific conditions, her asylum case was approved and Mary became eligible for resettlement services from the IRC in Richmond. She is motivated and a hard worker, and has made every effort to make her own way since arriving in Richmond. She is a ray of sunshine, bringing joy to everyone around her. Even with very limited resources for herself, she has been known to feed the homeless near her apartment building. But she now is facing some health challenges that restrict her employment opportunities. While the IRC helps her find a job she can physically do and improve her English, this month she needs a little extra support to get groceries after paying all of her other bills.

Partner: IRC

Advisor: Sharon Singer

Alison was just a teenager when she arrived in a refugee camp, a victim of the Second Congo War. She spent 16 years in the camp, and arrived in the U.S. a single mom with three young children. She got a job and her children were doing well in school. Now, Alison is navigating remote learning for her children and, as a single parent, could not keep working while her children were learning from home. Pregnant again, Alison needs a little support to make sure she has the supplies needed to bring a baby home from the hospital. Your donation will help her obtain a car safety seat for when she and the baby get rides to follow-up appointments, and other items newborns need.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Groceries. LeQuanda is a single mother of three - including a new set of twins. She has had to reduce her hours at work due to a lack of childcare during this pandemic. With limited income, LeQuanda is requesting assistance with items for her babies and groceries.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Phone Bill. Helen had to take time away from work to care for her son, who had a recent organ transplant during the pandemic. Due to the severity of this recovery plan, she had to isolate herself and stay at home. This loss of income has put a strain on her finances. Helen is requesting assistance with her cell phone bill so she can have a form of communication.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Groceries. Krystal is the single mother of three and the caretaker of her grandson. She is working from home because, since COVID, it has been hard finding care for her non-verbal autistic son. Krystal states it is hard trying to work from home and have children online in school at home as well, and this has caused a decrease in her hours at work. She is requesting assistance with groceries.

Partner: Peter Paul Development Center

Advisor: Sherika Chew

James is self employed and maintains his household budget by doing carpentry and plumbing jobs. He has unfortunately fallen behind recently due becoming sick over the past couple of months. He thankfully is turning for the better and just needs a little covering his utility so he can focus on full recovery and hopefully return to work soon,

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Beds. Ms. Love has four teenage children from Philadelphia who have relocated to Richmond, due to an emergency. They currently have an immediate need for bedding Ms. Love unemployed presently. Her family is sleeping on worn air mattresses; they are starting to leak and deflate beyond repair. Ms. Love has researched and found beds for $124 at Walmart. Ms. Love is asking for help with purchasing two mattresses for her children.