To my friends and family, as well as anyone who comes across this, I am asking you to help a friend of mine who really, really needs support right now. I am not including pictures of him or his family out of respect for him and his family during a stressful time.

My good friend Antonio and his family have had a really difficult couple of years: layoffs, cancer that nearly ended a life, and eviction.  On top of all of that, Antonio found out 2 years ago that he fathered a child when he was a teenager when the mother came after him for back child support, which he has faithfully paid even though he was not ever given the opportunity to meet his son in person and the mom denies access to his son as much as possible.

Antonio lost his his job a few months ago and has fallen behind on his payments.  The court and the mother were unwilling to give him a break on the payments, and now the mother has asked the courts to put out a warrant for the arrest (or law enforcement, I am not an attorney!)  She will not budge, even though this jeopardizes his ability to help her or his family in Nevada.  Unless Antonio can come up with what he owes, he will go to jail for 6 months.  He cannot come up with the funds because he cannot get a job with a warrant out for his arrest!

I am asking for your help because Antonio has nowhere to turn. He grew up in the Foster Care system and his wife's family is unable to help (they helped with the unbelievable medical bills, thanks a lot cancer). He works hard and abides by the law, he is a great friend, husband and father who is being punished for being poor. It's maddening. 

I know many of you have been down and out and hopeless and would not be where you are without the support you received along the way. I know that this is 100% true for me and that I am extraordinarily privileged to have family and friends to turn to when things fall apart. Imagine life if you didn't have that support. It would be a nightmare.

If I have ever helped you out, made you laugh, or done something that made you wish you could do something nice for me, well here it is. I am asking you as a personal favor to me, please help my friend, even if you can only kick in a dollar. Antonio and his family deserve a chance to get back on their feet, but they will not get it without our help. All of your donations will go to Antonio and his family.  

Thank you for listening and for caring enough to read this far. I am grateful to you!