Family of Superb Care Worker Starts Special Savings Cushion

By David W. Oaks

For ten years, after my accident made me a quad, my team of care workers & amazing wife Debra have kept me independent here in Eugene, Oregon. A year and a half ago, a superb caregiver joined our team, Elijah Gittens, and his caring, good-humored, professional and friendly approach have been crucial to my quality of life. Here is Elijah with his family:

Elijah and his family have started a Go Fund Me campaign. They are not in immediate crisis, but they need to build up a savings account to prevent future housing emergencies. It is great that this blog goes out at the beginning of Black History Month. Elijah is African-American and the wealth disparity among marginalized groups need to be addressed.

As a consumer/employer, I cannot give directly to Elijah’s crowdsourcing campaign. But I hope you can. You may read his brief Go Fund Me appeal here:

https://gofund.me/72f941ef

Words From Elijah About his Family Goal:

Let me explain: Last year, our family suddenly had a medical issue and we had trouble making rent. My wife, our 11-year-old daughter, and I came within hours of being evicted. It was too late to do crowdsourcing.

We can make rent for now. Our health is okay, both my wife and I are working. But we do not want to face such a rent crisis again.

Between getting our child to school, and other after-school activities, on top of both of us going to and from work, we are at risk of someday again being in a financial hole.

Our monthly rent has increased and we only have one fully working vehicle at this current moment in time.

I don’t like doing this. But, here I am, asking for help. Any gifts received will go into our bank account and only be used for an urgent crisis, such as the threat of eviction.

If we never face an emergency like this, the funds will go to our daughter’s college tuition in the future. We want to prevent any housing crisis.

Elijah’s Go Fund Me campaign is here:

https://gofund.me/72f941ef

Other ways you can give:

Mail or drop off your check made out to “Elijah Gittens” and in the memo area put account number: 153696635090. US Bank; 55 W. 29th Ave.; Eugene, OR 97405.

Cash App. The name: $ElijahGittens