Family in Need in South County Area

Joanna,
First off....let me apologize for the length of this email.... I know it looks like War and Peace.

During the holidays, we are usually tasked with finding a family that could really use our assistance, whether it be with just Thanksgiving food, Christmas toys for their kids etc,etc.
There is a family in the Watergate Estates trailer park that could really use some assistance all around. This family has assisted us in the past with numerous community related projects, provided us with intel and has even let us conduct surveillance from their home so that we could obtain a search warrant for a nearby drug house. They greatly support our efforts here in the Watergate community.
The husband is a truck driver and has to be away from the family for weeks on end at times so that he can make ends meet to pay bills, mortgage, power etc,etc. The wife is unable to work due to medical issues and cannot afford medications she is prescribed so she lives pretty much in pain so that money can go towards the kids and more immediate family needs.

Their house is near foreclosure ( possibly already IN foreclosure) and they are struggling to make ends meet.

I keep in constant contact with the mother and father regarding the community and any activity in the area. The Mom has insomnia and sees and hears alot of goings on in the community and passes that information on to us. On Tuesday, I stopped out at their residence when I saw the mom leaning on the hood of their car crying. I talked with her for about an hour regarding the family's situation and this holiday season and how the family is facing one of the toughest times. The family has never had a sense of entitlement or felt they deserved to get assistance, or expected anything in return for supporting our efforts in the community. Mom actually apologized for sounding so selfish, that there were other families that were probably in worse shape.

The family has two cars. A 1985 Volvo with over 200,000 or so miles on it and rarely makes it very long without a breakdown. The car was given to the family by the moms mother so that the husband can go to work and not leave the family without transportation. Mom has a separate car to take care of the kids, family needs and any emergencies that may arise while he is gone. The second car is a 1994 Honda Civic and also has over 200,000 miles ( although they are not positive as the odometer broke at 133,000 miles). It also breaks on a regular basis.

On Saturday, October 30th, I met with Gold Coast Tire and Auto repair manager Al Yaghy and told him about the family. He donated 4 new tires, balancing, mounting and an alignment for the family AT NO CHARGE! (We are going to recognize Mr.Yeaghy and his crew for their generosity in the near future.) I attached a picture of Mr. Yeaghy of Gold Coast Tire and his head mechanic. Behind them is the Honda belonging to the family.

I have a few things that we can help the family out with such as the Thanksgiving food drive, toys for tots and shop with a cop event ( we have helped the family in the past with the Toys for Tots program ) a portable basketball hoop for the kids ( theirs was damaged in a recent storm), the mom says the younger boys were wanting anything star wars but needed clothes and the oldest (17 years old) understands that he may have to sacrifice his holiday so that the younger brothers can have a decent Christmas.


I know we call upon alot of businesses in the local area to assist but if we can think of anything that we can do to help...I'm sure it would make life alot easier on the parents.

Joanna, If you need any additional information, please let me know.
And if I get any additional information regarding the family, I'll contact you too.
Thanks!

Cpl. Shawn A. Goddard #7510
Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office
Community Policing Unit
Field Training Officer
District 7 - Boca Raton
ofc: 561-483-9463
cell: 954-304-4780