Please Help Dakota and His Dad, Tony — They Need Us Now
I never thought I would be writing something like this.
Asking strangers, friends, family, and our community to help someone you love is not easy. But sometimes life gets to a point where you have to put your pride aside, swallow your tears, and simply ask.
Today, I am asking you to please help Dakota and his dad, Tony.
I love these two very much, and it breaks my heart to see what they are going through.
Dakota is a nine-year-old disabled, autistic boy. He is incredibly smart, loving, and special. He deserves to feel safe. He deserves stability. He deserves a home where he can be comfortable, receive his therapies, and simply be a kid.
And Tony is a dad who has spent years doing everything in his power to give his son those things.
Tony is a good dad. He is a tired dad. And right now, he is a dad who desperately needs help.
Around the time COVID hit, Tony's life changed in ways he never expected. Dakota's mother left, taking Dakota with her, and later returned and dropped him back into Tony's care.
Tony stepped up.
He didn't walk away.
He didn't complain.
He didn't ask anyone to rescue him.
He simply became the father Dakota needed.
Since then, Tony has been doing everything he can to hold their little family together.
He has worked whenever he could. He has scrapped to make extra money. He has done whatever honest work was available just to keep food on the table and take care of Dakota.
He was also caring for his grandmother.
And all the while, life kept throwing one thing after another at him.
The roof began leaking.
The floors started falling apart.
The windows needed attention.
The home needed winterization.
His vehicles kept breaking down.
The bills kept piling up.
And every time Tony thought he might finally catch his breath, another problem came along.
If it could go wrong, it seemed to find Tony.
Yet somehow, he kept going.
Then his grandmother was gone, and another burden was left behind.
The electricity bill never got paid.
And now, their power has been shut off for more than a week.
It's been hot. It's been humid. And Tony is trying to care for his son without something as basic as electricity.
I can't stop thinking about that.
Because Tony isn't someone who calls people and tells them how bad things are.
He doesn't complain.
He doesn't ask for handouts.
He doesn't tell everyone about the things he is going without.
He just keeps going.
Even when he's exhausted.
Even when he's hurting.
Even when he's scared.
Even when he doesn't know what tomorrow is going to look like.
Tony can only work while Dakota is in school because he doesn't have respite services and doesn't have family available to help care for him.
That means Tony's ability to earn a living is limited by the very real responsibility of caring for his son.
And somewhere along the way, Tony stopped taking care of himself.
His own medical and dental needs have been pushed aside because Dakota comes first.
Every time.
That's the kind of dad Tony is.
But now they've reached a point where love and hard work aren't enough to fix everything.
Their home is deteriorating around them.
The roof needs major repairs. The floors are unsafe. Windows need attention. The home needs winterization. Dakota needs a safe ramp. And their transportation situation is becoming a crisis.
Tony's truck is breaking down, making it harder and harder to get Dakota to school, therapy, appointments, and the places he needs to go.
We've loaned Tony our vehicle when we can because we know how important reliable transportation is for Dakota.
But we can't do everything.
That's why I'm asking you.
I'm asking you to help us give this family something they haven't had in a very long time:
A break.
A chance to catch up.
A chance to get their electricity back on.
A chance to make their home safe.
A chance to find reliable transportation.
A chance for Tony to finally take care of his own health.
And most importantly, a chance for Dakota to have the safe and stable home he deserves.
What Tony and Dakota desperately need:
• Their electricity restored
• Emergency roof repairs
• Safe flooring
• Window repairs or replacement
• Winterization
• A safe ramp for Dakota
• Reliable transportation
• Necessary home repairs
• A safer home for Tony and Dakota
• Help with basic living expenses
• Medical and dental care Tony has been forced to put off
Ultimately, Tony and Dakota need a safe place to call home. The mobile home they are living in is simply not in good enough condition, and Tony cannot afford to solve all of these problems on his own.
This isn't about giving Tony a handout.
It's about giving a good dad a hand up.
It's about helping someone who has spent years putting his child first.
It's about telling Tony, You don't have to do this alone anymore.
If you can donate, please give whatever you can.
Five dollars matters.
Ten dollars matters.
Twenty dollars matters.
Every single donation matters.
And if you can't donate, please share this fundraiser.
Share it with your friends. Your family. Your coworkers. Your neighbors. Your community. Anyone who might be able to help.
Because you never know who might see it.
You never know whose small act of kindness might be the thing that changes everything for Dakota and Tony.
Right now, we're hanging on by a wing and a prayer.
And I'm hoping that someone reading this will look at Dakota and think:
That's somebody's little boy.
He deserves better.
And I'm hoping someone will look at Tony and think:
You've carried this long enough.
Let us help.
Because Tony has spent years putting his son first.
Now it's our turn to put them first.
Please help us give Dakota a safe, stable home with his dad.
Please help us get their power back on.
Please help Tony get his life back.
Please help this little family have a chance to breathe again.
They don't need pity. They need a miracle.
And maybe that miracle can start with you.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading their story. Thank you for donating. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for praying. And thank you for caring about two people who truly need their community right now.
Every dollar, every share, and every prayer means more than you will ever know.