My name is Casey. I recently got out of prison, and I'm determined that this time is different.

I'll be honest with you. Every time I've gotten out, I've hit the same wall: no money. No money means no way to get to work, and no way to get to work means no money. In the past, that wall is what pushed me back into breaking the law. I don't want that life anymore.

While I was in prison, I was assaulted by a group of officers. I was hospitalized with broken bones, a concussion, cuts and swelling. What happened to me changed my life, and I'm still carrying it.

While I was in the hospital in October 2023, doctors found a nodule on my lung. It was 3 millimeters, and they said it needed to be checked every six months. I was never taken back for those checkups. When I got out, I found a doctor right away, and the tests showed it has more than doubled, to 7 millimeters. I'm facing the possibility of lung cancer, and I have an appointment coming up to find out more.

Right now I live in Gilbertsville, NY, in a house that's barely standing. If it were in a city, it would probably be condemned. The nearest town with stores and real jobs is a half hour drive, and I have no car and no license.

To get my license back, I have to pay the DMV $700, all at once. They don't take payments. That one payment is the difference between being stuck and being able to work. The rest of the $2,500 goes toward making my home safe to live in and keeping me on my feet while I get my health answers and steady work.

I have real skills. I do remodeling, landscaping, plumbing and electrical work, and I own my own tools. With a license I can get to job sites, take on customers, and go after a steady, on-the-books job.

I'd rather ask for help honestly than go back to the way I used to get by. If you can give even a few dollars, or share this page, you'd be helping me stay on the right path.

Thank you for reading my story.

Casey