Hi all! My name is Serena and I am hoping to raise some funds to keep a roof over mine and Fantasma's heads while we get through a rocky patch in life.

2025 is proving to be a rough one. September last year things were really looking up; I was assistant supervisor on a fun project at an amazing animation studio, an animation professor at the college I went to many moons ago. I had just signed a lease for an apartment that though was pricey, was still much less than the 2400$ garden home I was paying rent for solo. And I thought everything would be okay; that my apartment wasn't cheap, but I was making good money in my field, in a career I had researched and chosen to go into in my late 20's...and then that all changed.

This coming September is looking much different. I have not been able to find work in my field since the winter. My teaching position has been cut due to changes at the college and I will not have a job there any longer. I have not had success finding fulltime work in or outside of my field despite looking and applying. I am currently working overnights at my local grocery store 32-40 hours a week for minimum wage, and am breaking my body in hopes that I can pay my bills.

And I can't pay my bills... despite freezing my spending any way I can (coffee for breakfast, cereal for lunch and dinner), I do not have enough to pay my rent in 10 days. And once I pay my rent late...I will not have a single dollar after bills paid to pay my August rent. ...and I don't know what to do about it. Besides ask for help.

I spend every waking minute applying for work, thinking of ways I can make "quick cash" (I honestly don't think my feet are pretty enough to get a solid following on OnlyFans), or spiraling into my darkest thoughts about where I went wrong while wrapped in heating pads. I never thought that at 40 I would be wearing a back brace, knee braces, and walking with a cane because I push my body so hard to stock shelves and earn what money I can in today's job market. I'm breaking both physically and mentally just trying to survive.

Which is why I am trying this. I need help. I feel like I am suffocating every time I get a "past due" message or phone call. The overwhelming anxiety and shame I feel not knowing if I'll be able to buy food for Fantasma or myself each week. I find myself wanting to give up. That this is all too hard to survive...and this is my last chance really. Because I don't even own a car I could try my hand at living in. I don't have anyone able to take me in should I be evicted.

If you could help at all, even $20, it would mean the world. I know times are difficult for so many, I do not make this request lightly. Any help would not be overlooked or unappreciated. Also; if you can't donate any money right now but have a crawlspace or attic Fanta and I could move into in September when my lease is up, that would be rad as heck. Just putting that out there ;) Or if you are willing to share this link, that would also help so much.

Thank you for your time and consideration. It really does mean the world to me

-Serena