I’ve never done this before. I don’t fundraise. I don’t organize campaigns. But this isn’t about me. This is about a close friend who’s drowning, and he finally, finally reached out.

This is someone most of you know. A neighbor. A father. A real person in our circle. One of the quiet, decent guys. Shows up. Works hard. Never asks for anything.

He sent me this message:

“Hey. I don’t even know how to start this. I’ve never done anything like this before.

Things have completely fallen apart. I’m behind on my mortgage. Every bill is late. I’ve been trying to hold it all together and keep up appearances, but the truth is, I’m not okay. I’m scared. I’m overwhelmed. I feel like I’m failing — as a husband, as a father, as a person.

I’ve always been the one who tries to figure it out. Who pushes through. Who doesn’t ask.

But right now I’m telling you — I can’t do this alone anymore.

I don’t know where to turn. I don’t even know what kind of help to ask for. I just know that if I don’t speak up now, I’m going to go under.

Please don’t judge me. I’m just trying to breathe.”

That message broke me.

Because I know him. And if someone like him is sending that… It’s serious.

So here I am. Reaching out to you, my friends. If you know me, you know I don’t play games. This is real. This is urgent. This is someone who has never leaned on the community in his life, and now he’s holding on by a thread.

If you can help, whatever the amount, I’m begging you, do it now. Don’t wait. Don’t scroll past this.

Let’s show him that when one of us falls, we show up. Period.

Let’s carry him through this storm so he can breathe again.

We don’t turn our backs. Not here. Not now. Not to one of our own.