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Irena served six years; now needs help to get home

A marines veteran in Newcastle upon Tyne needs help with a trained service dog and handler course after leaving service with a service-related knee injury.

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Irena Renata Kalinowski
Email verified
Newcastle upon Tyne
I served six years in the marines and was discharged in 2024 with a service-related knee injury. I have been waiting eleven months for support, and meanwhile I'm sleeping at my brother's place. I have a plan: a trained service dog and handler course. The quote I have comes to $3,600. I'm receiving counseling through the veterans' clinic and am committed to my recovery. Structure and a stable place to live are the missing pieces. I'd be grateful for any help and will share updates on how I'm doing. Money will be paid to the training provider and the landlord directly. Where the $3,600 goes: • Training provider fees: $1,150 • Housing deposit and first month: $1,950 • Transport to appointments: $300 • Essential household items: $200 With deep gratitude, Irena

Updates from Irena

  1. Small update. $1,499 so far, the first invoice got paid this week. - Irena

  • Harsh L. Bajpai 🇬🇧 · $50

    “Sending love. Hope the November deadline works out. - Southampton”

  • Jamila Wafa Qureshi 🇸🇦 · $50
  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $50

    “Keep your head up. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Syracuse”

  • Oliver H. McDaniel 🇬🇧 · $76

    “Hope this helps. Thought of Irena all day after reading this. - London”

  • Camille P. Rodriguez 🇵🇭 · $50
  • Halima Sade Salami 🇳🇬 · $100
  • Wayne Young 🇺🇸 · $25

    “Best of luck. Only $25 but hope it helps. - Santa Fe”

  • Charmaine Tomas 🇵🇭 · $20
  • Idowu Halima Uba 🇳🇬 · $10
  • Noman Babu Majumder 🇮🇳 · $64
  • Savannah Hansen 🇺🇸 · $500

    “Hang in there. Hope you get the rest soon. - Mesa”

  • Anonymous 🇪🇬 · $63.50
  • Yodchai Charoenpol 🇹🇭 · $25
  • Anonymous 🇨🇦 · $20
  • Auma Lucy Njoroge 🇰🇪 · $20

    “You got this. My brother told me about this one. - Mombasa”

  • Salim Tannous 🇲🇦 · $25

    “Thinking of you. Only $25 but hope it helps. - Mohammedia”

  • Pari Chauhan 🇮🇳 · $75
  • Kelvin Vincent Amponsah 🇬🇭 · $75

    “Thought of Irena all day after reading this. - Accra”

  • Héctor K. Domínguez 🇺🇸 · $25

    “Hope things get better. My brother told me about this one. - Augusta”

  • Hiroto Kimura 🇯🇵 · $25

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  • is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Irena.

    • Sure. The biggest one is training provider fees, $1,150. The rest is in the list at the bottom of the post and I'll upload receipts as I pay each one. Thanks for looking so closely.

  • so sorry you're going through this, Irena. I hope things turn around soon. I'm in accounting myself and wanted you to know we're cheering for you. Blessings

    • Sending strength. Gave what I could, wish it was more. I hope November is when things finally get easier. All the best.

      • Thanks for sharing this, Irena. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Read this on the bus and kept thinking about it all day.

        $3,110.50 raised of $3,600

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