On the Road Again
Donation protected
I've never liked asking for help, but I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place, with no way out.
Living on a fixed income sucks, and I've tried for years to be more self-reliant via the good ole "bootstrap" method. But this hasn't worked well for me, even though I tried like hell!
I've been on disability for over a decade, stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of poverty. I'm so very desperate to do what I can to break that cycle. That's why I'm swallowing my pride and humbly reaching out to you.
Here's the back story: In late 2013, I lost my license because I couldn't afford to pay fines for two traffic tickets I received during a visit to Brooklyn, NY. I ran a red light, got pulled over, and received a $450 fine. On the way home, I got a speeding ticket worth $300. Shortly after losing my license, the truck I drove kicked the bucket and ended up in a junkyard (which was a good thing, honestly).
Losing my license and vehicle has affected my life in a profoundly negative way. Though I've become more pedestrian and have learned how to navigate public transportation, I live in a rural area where having a car is essential to health and wellness.
In order to get my license back, I need to pay the fines AND reinstatement fees in both New York and Vermont, at about $75 bucks a pop. I've paid off the speeding ticket, but still struggle to scrape together the funds needed to pay off the Brooklyn ticket. There are no programs to help me - and I have no relatives who are well-off enough to throw that kind of money in my direction.
As a disabled singer living in Vermont, transportation is necessary for me! Without a car, I can't get to rehearsals or gigs. Music is at the heart of everything I do; without it, I feel empty and lost.
Right now I am a prisoner of my own circumstances and I'm utterly exhausted. But I haven't given up yet, and I'm not going down without a good fight! Please help me get on the road, help me get back into music, help me improve my life, and help me do the work I'm meant to do in the world. Help me heal so I can help others!
For once in my life, I am not afraid, nor ashamed, to ask for help. Feel free to share, and thank you so much for your generosity! I'll be updating periodically as I start to spread the word about this campaign.
Living on a fixed income sucks, and I've tried for years to be more self-reliant via the good ole "bootstrap" method. But this hasn't worked well for me, even though I tried like hell!
I've been on disability for over a decade, stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of poverty. I'm so very desperate to do what I can to break that cycle. That's why I'm swallowing my pride and humbly reaching out to you.
Here's the back story: In late 2013, I lost my license because I couldn't afford to pay fines for two traffic tickets I received during a visit to Brooklyn, NY. I ran a red light, got pulled over, and received a $450 fine. On the way home, I got a speeding ticket worth $300. Shortly after losing my license, the truck I drove kicked the bucket and ended up in a junkyard (which was a good thing, honestly).
Losing my license and vehicle has affected my life in a profoundly negative way. Though I've become more pedestrian and have learned how to navigate public transportation, I live in a rural area where having a car is essential to health and wellness.
In order to get my license back, I need to pay the fines AND reinstatement fees in both New York and Vermont, at about $75 bucks a pop. I've paid off the speeding ticket, but still struggle to scrape together the funds needed to pay off the Brooklyn ticket. There are no programs to help me - and I have no relatives who are well-off enough to throw that kind of money in my direction.
As a disabled singer living in Vermont, transportation is necessary for me! Without a car, I can't get to rehearsals or gigs. Music is at the heart of everything I do; without it, I feel empty and lost.
Right now I am a prisoner of my own circumstances and I'm utterly exhausted. But I haven't given up yet, and I'm not going down without a good fight! Please help me get on the road, help me get back into music, help me improve my life, and help me do the work I'm meant to do in the world. Help me heal so I can help others!
For once in my life, I am not afraid, nor ashamed, to ask for help. Feel free to share, and thank you so much for your generosity! I'll be updating periodically as I start to spread the word about this campaign.
Organizer
Celisa Stratton
Organizer
Bennington, VT
