Hello world!





We are the Martin family from the Northern Cape in South Africa.





Our family includes myself (Naubrey), my wife (Bianca), our 2 year-old son (Anakin -- yes, Anakin, as in Darth Vader's real name), our 6 cats (5 of whom we have addopted due to cruel neighbours leaving their pets behind when moving -- they are named Tesla, Rubi, Bushy, Obi, Peanut and Nox), our dapple sausage dog (Adolph -- yes, Adolph, as in Adolph Hitler... because he is German... get it?) 2 tarantulas (Ashe and Spectra), 1 Kenyan Sand Boa (Samanthé, or Sam for short) and last but not least, 1 Crested Gecko (Vesphyr).





We have been financially hit (in the gut, it feels like) by the impact the COVID19 outbreak has on us South Africans, especially due to the current (and, extremely long) lockdown we are under. I am a Safety Officer for a contracting company opperating on a number of opencast mines in our area, and with that, the sole provider for my family.





When we learned that we where expecting our son about 3 years ago, we decided that we wanted my wife to stay at home and be able to raise him herself, to which we are certainly picking the fruits from now.





Unfortunately, however, as soon as President Ramaphosa announced SA's national lockdown, the company I work for let it's employees know (including me) that if there will be no work done, there will be no pay given... which is understandable, I guess. But, this meant a lack of 1 month's salary.





We were supposed to receive our pay at the very last day of April, which would have been the 30th. We are needing to be able to pay for our usual basic necessaties, like medical aid, car and household insurance, rent, food, transport, water and electricity bill, credit card bill, and dept repayments. With a sum of about $5 000, or anything close to that, we will be able to get through the tough month ahead.





We are looking for kind hearted people in our crazy world who would like to help us, even if it is with just a little. And, for those who are donating to our cause, we want to thank you, TRUELY thank you, out of the bottom of our hearts for helping strangers in need! May God bless you all!





Warm regards from the big (and grateful) Martin family in the Kalahari!