Giving Tuesday 2025 - Culpepper Garden

For more than a year, Orin had been searching for a place of his own. He filled out applications, made phone calls every two weeks, and patiently waited on Culpepper Garden's lengthy housing waitlist. Despite setbacks and uncertainty, he never gave up hope.

Then, one August afternoon, Orin's phone rang. An apartment was available — and the timing couldn't have been more meaningful. Earlier this summer, he'd been in a car accident that left his vehicle totaled and his situation precarious. When he toured the apartment, he knew instantly: this was home.

By September, Orin had moved in. He arrived with little more than a few belongings, but his community rallied around him. Thanks to kindhearted friends and caring neighbors, his new apartment was soon furnished with a bed, table, and the essentials he needed to start fresh. At 6'6 finding a winter jacket and boots to fit him was nearly impossible, but his community came through.

At the age of 63, Orin works six days a week at a local garden center. Though his income is just enough to cover rent and groceries, he walks to work each day with quiet determination and a sense of purpose. He keeps his home spotless, loves cooking tacos, and dreams of one day owning a car again.

Most importantly, Orin now has access to the support and resources he needs to thrive as he ages. Without health insurance or Medicare, he risked falling deeper into hardship.

This is what your generosity makes possible. Every gift you give opens the door for an older adult like Orin, who is determined, hopeful, and deserving of dignity and respect.

As we look toward the promise of a new year, we ask for your support. Please donate this Giving Tuesday to help more residents like Orin find their home at Culpepper Garden. Thank you for caring!