Deeds Not Words: Dale's Story

For this husband and wife in their sixties, the vow of “in sickness and in health” has taken on a deeper, more demanding meaning with time. What was once a promise spoken on their wedding day has become a daily commitment, shaped by aging and the quiet resilience required to face challenges together.

Mr. Dale Asher is a 64-year-old Navy veteran (1981-2001) and lives with his wife in California. He currently works full-time while receiving his healthcare from the VA. Mrs. Asher is also in her 60s and is unable to care for herself. Due to her need for full-time care, Mr. Asher pays out of pocket for caregivers while he works.

Recently, Mrs. Asher’s caregiver did not show up for her shift, and Mr. Asher was unable to find a substitute immediately. This required him to take 7 days off from work, unpaid. This affected their budget, plunging the couple into financial distress.

Being unable to pay for the monthly bills brought on new stress and Mr. Asher claimed that it made his post-traumatic stress worse and put the family at risk of having their utilities disconnected. This led to Mr. Asher reaching out to America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP).

The AWP Network reached out to our partners at PureTalk, who were quickly there to help. The Ashers received assistance with their gas, electric, and car payments - preventing the family from being at risk of disconnection of their utilities.

Deeds Not Words is a collaborative initiative between PureTalk and America’s Warrior Partnership, dedicated to providing tangible support to veterans in need. Through PureTalk’s continued commitment, veterans like Dale can access help through the AWP Network when they need it most.