Please help us help a friend keep the lights on and stay connected. He's family.

Photo copyright Bobby Neary Sánchez, 2014; all rights reserved.

You may remember that a couple of months ago, a few of us were working together with our dear friend Bobby Neary Sánchez to help save his farm. 

For those coming to this for the first time, Bobby is a brilliantly talented chef who also runs an animal rescue on the south coast of Puerto Rico. He was doing both up until last year, when his husband, Juan's cancer returned aggressively. Bobby dropped everything to care for Juan full-time, until he walked on this spring. He has a new position as chef lined up, and it's a good one, but the start date has been pushed back, owing to his boss having sustained a fractured ankle.

When we first helped Bobby launch this fundraiser, things were desperate: He was at risk of losing the farm entirely, having to place all of their beloved animals elsewhere and move into an apartment. Yes, it could be done, but it would mean abandoning every last tangible vestige of the life he and Juan shared together for so long and loved so well. Things are a bit better now; he's been able to renegotiate terms on the farm a bit, and it looks like he will be able to remain there, but he really needs a safety net for that.

In the meantime, between the loss of Juan, the initial attempts to save his home, and waiting for the new position to begin, life goes on. And it makes its usual demands, and some not so usual ones, besides. He wound up suspending his fundraising efforts to cope with an influx of unexpected guests of both the two-legged and four-legged variety, and simply to do everything that needs to be done in a day. And much of the expenses for the animals are covered by the rescue entities with whom he's partnered for so many years. But the ordinary bills come due nevertheless, and in the heat of a Puerto Rico summer, when the island is suffering a drought, that can be very expensive indeed.

Right now, he needs about $500 to catch up on his past-due power bill and bring it current. What he will not tell you himself, but I will (yes, I've cleared it) is that his Internet service has been disconnected (like us, he needs a satellite connection to make it work), and the washing machine just blew. We've been there on both counts. I would also like to make sure that he has a little cushion to ensure that he can eat properly.

His original fundraiser goal, for saving the farm entirely, was about $12,000, I believe. In two months, he managed to raise about a quarter of that, but that leaves three-quarters yet to raise to ensure that he can stay in his home. I'd like to see if we can raise, say, 10% of the total over the next few days: enough to bring him current on the power bill, enough to reconnect his Internet service, enough to take care of the washer (where he lives, regularly hauling everything miles into town to a laundromat is neither feasible nor cost-effective), and enough to take care of restocking the fridge and pantry.

Bobby is family to Wings and me. He may live thousands of miles away, but we share not merely interests and vocations but spirits. He is one of the kindest, most generous souls I know, and he would give you the shirt off his back if you showed up at his door in need. You know the phrase, so-and-so is "good people?" That's Bobby. We love him, and we want to make sure he's safe and well.

I know that lots of folks are as strapped as we are. If you can't donate, though, would you mind sharing the link to his GoFundMe page with all your networks, both on- and offline? You never know who will be reached, touched by his story, or maybe that of the rescues, and be moved to kick in a little bit. And, of course, if you can donate, please do. Every bit counts, even the cost of a cup of Starbucks coffee.

Chi miigwech and ta'a from Wings and me.