A fellow kossian, marabout40 (and her furry friend, Tucker), is broke and homeless and many of us got together and pitched in a few weeks ago. You can read about it here in a previous diary.
But when you are broke, homeless, sick and jobless, you might need more help to begin to get your life back.
More below the Itzl.
Many of us are having a difficult time financially right now. I know my family is struggling. But we also have a roof over our head, and a small income from social security, as well as food from our health food store. So in many ways our family is fortunate in today's economy. But some are not so fortunate, and some, like marabout40, are in truly dire straits, having lost job, home and health.
With permission, I am sharing with you what marabout40 says her immediate needs are:
This is where I am right now: I have $349 left from the money 4freedom raised for me three weeks ago. I owe the extended stay $420. I've been hanging on the the last $349 until I figure out what's going to happen next. Nothing on the job front or the room for rent front here in Maine. A kind Maine Kossack was trying to find a place for me, but nothing has worked out yet. The offer from another Kossack turned out to be something for a weekend.
I NEED TO LEAVE THE EXTENDED STAY. It costs me $60 per night to stay here. By the time I wrote out a $454 check for two months of storage for my stuff in NYC, I ended up giving them the remainder of the money I got from the fundraiser (minus the $349 left). That's insane! Even the people donating the money don't have such high monthly living expenses. I have got to leave here. Unfortunately, it's the cheapest place (especially for this time of year) that I could find and that would take Tucker. Nonetheless, it's urgent that I leave here. I could have paid several months of rent with the money I raised. I could have bought a used car and driven back to NY. Staying here is unsustainable and a complete waste of money.
I would love to go back to NYC. My things are there. I know the city. It's easy to get around. My son's just a couple hours away in Connecticut. I already have NYS health insurance and it is of the utmost importance that I have some form of health coverage. Plus, since I'm already in the system, I could get assistance for housing and food stamps. A free room in the city for a 3 or 4 months would be ideal.
Connecticut would be ok, too. As I said, my son is there (attends UConn) and it's close to NYC.
Philadelphia is also an option. I know a Kossack there and he'd be a good friend and guide. I was even thinking that I could be of some use to the Obama campaign in helping PA's to get registered and get the proper ID so we have good turnout on election day. Perhaps people might be interested in sponsoring me to do that.
Whereever I go, I will need to rent a minivan to get me, Tucker and all my belongings there. That's what I had to rent to drive up here. The cost for that was $280+ for two days and that was back in early April. Not sure what the rates are now and how long I'd need the vehicle. Perhaps three days: one to pick up and load up (I have quite a few things and I'm on my own), one to drive to my destination, and one to unpack and return.
I would also like to get some groceries this weekend. I'm out of food. I've been putting off buying anything because I don't want to touch the last $349.
AND OF COURSE, IF ANYONE CAN OFFER A JOB, IT WOULD BE A GODSEND. I'll be happy to provide my resume or link to my LinkedIn profile. Just drop me an email.
marabout40 just let me know that a generous Kossack has kicked off our fundraiser with a whopping $150. She had remembered Dionne's situation and donated while we were discussing this diary. Many thanks once again to our Kossack community! If you would like to help marabout40, her
PayPal address is dionne_jacques@yahoo.com. Dionne doesn't like asking for help, which I understand.
But I always remember that,
and Tucker's person is needed to care for Tucker, who is one beautiful boy!
If we stand together and chip in whatever we can, we can help marabout40 have more blue skies and fewer clouds in her life.
I have to send off state and federal taxes for my business next week and can only pitch in $10, and that will have to go on a credit card things are so tight. But I can't see leaving a community member in Dionne's situation without trying to help.
Here's hoping the community can once again come together and help to change a life.