Share the Season: Military veteran needs help catching up on bills
Share the Season is an annual campaign that offers one-time aid to people affected by unforeseen hardships. The people are not identified to protect their privacy.
The 42-year-old military veteran hasn’t been able to work since July.
He said he served 20 years in the military, including two tours in Iraq and a tour in Afghanistan. He said he was wounded twice in a six-week period in 2007.
“I’m a disabled veteran, my PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and wounds I sustained in combat have gotten worse to where I can’t work,” he wrote on his application to Share the Season.
He said he has borrowed money from family members. He needs help getting caught up on taxes, utilities and his phone bill.
He lives by himself, but last year he found out he has a daughter who is 4. He is working hard to develop a relationship with her.
“I’m not looking for a handout,” he told The Eagle. “But I do need a little hand up so I can take it from there.”
His sister told him about Share the Season.
“Even if it would help me get caught up and close to getting my head out of water, I can take it from there,” he said. “I’m grateful for anything.”
Share the Season is a joint project of The Eagle, the Wichita Community Foundation and the Salvation Army.
So far this season, it has raised more than $163,784.
Send contributions to Share the Season at the Wichita Community Foundation, 301 N. Main, Suite 100, Wichita, KS 67202. To donate online, go to www.sharetheseason.org. If you have questions about donating, call 316-264-4880.
Donors will be listed in The Eagle; please note if you prefer to remain anonymous.
To apply for help, fill out an application at www.sharetheseason.org or pick one up at the Salvation Army, 350 N. Market. The application deadline is Dec. 20. For more information, call 316-263-2769.
Among recent donors: Jerry and Anita Allard, in memory of Grant Allard; Steven and Cindy Angle; Teresa Arthur; Courtney and Mark Bengtson, in honor of James and Penny; Raymond Brown; Clark and Sharon Bastian Donor Advised Fund at the Wichita Community Foundation; Rich Euson, in memory of Colleen Euson; Ronald and Judy Fiegel; Roy and Beth Heatherly, in honor of the staff at The Wichita Eagle; Jamie and Rusty Lane; Barbara Linder, in honor of Hazel Linder and Jim Linder; Gerry and Vicki Little; Janet Miller; Joyce Oster, in honor of Jill Docking and Rebecca Wold; Joyce Oster, in honor of Pam Winter and Pamela Clancy Ammar; Robert and Carmen Razook; anonymous, in honor of Cecile Kellenbarger; anonymous, in memory of Douglas Bebout and Donald Sturgill; and six anonymous donors.
This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 5:03 PM with the headline "Share the Season: Military veteran needs help catching up on bills."