At The Bottom of My Barrell
Donation protected
My name is Donna Kimber. As I type my story, I am sitting in my friend's car at 2 am, where I will sleep tonight, as I have for several nights since I became homeless. Through the kindness of a handful of friends, I have been able to spend some days and nights in a hotel room. Another friend was gracious enough to let me stay with her for several weeks. I am grateful beyond words for their kindness.
I am a 56 year-old woman, who has worked (sometimes 2 jobs) since I was 15. I am college educated and suffer from depression/anxiety so debilitating that I have filed a disability claim. I have lost many jobs within the past several years, due to poor attendance, resulting from the disorder. There are sometimes days on end when I go into that dark place that covers me like a shroud. I am unable to get out of bed, except for bathroom visits. Currently, I am in search of a job that will support me until my disability claim is processed. It must be something that will not require a great deal of focus or concentration, as I have issues in those areas. I am a Customer Service/Administrative professional, which requires a finite skill set. Unfortunately, I now have deficits in those skills.
Most people that know me have no idea I suffer from mental illness. I have struggled with it since I was 17. I learned early on that there is a stigma regarding mental illness. Some people equate mental illness with being "crazy". "Crazy?"...no! I'm just a middle-aged woman struggling to survive. I am so scared that I will wind up on the streets. My options are few and I need assistance. For 40 years I have mastered the art of putting on a brave face, smiling, and pretending all is well in my world, when in fact, there are times when I fall apart.
I am a survivor of child molestation, by 3 different men, at 3 different times in my childhood. The trauma was and is so devastating, that it pervades every area of my life. I fear I will never be able to cope with, or even forgive the monsters that stole my innocence.
As a result, currently I have no financial means to support myself. I am asking for your help, so that I can support myself for a few months.
Please forgive the photo. I will add more in a day or two.
May God bless you and keep you!
I am a 56 year-old woman, who has worked (sometimes 2 jobs) since I was 15. I am college educated and suffer from depression/anxiety so debilitating that I have filed a disability claim. I have lost many jobs within the past several years, due to poor attendance, resulting from the disorder. There are sometimes days on end when I go into that dark place that covers me like a shroud. I am unable to get out of bed, except for bathroom visits. Currently, I am in search of a job that will support me until my disability claim is processed. It must be something that will not require a great deal of focus or concentration, as I have issues in those areas. I am a Customer Service/Administrative professional, which requires a finite skill set. Unfortunately, I now have deficits in those skills.
Most people that know me have no idea I suffer from mental illness. I have struggled with it since I was 17. I learned early on that there is a stigma regarding mental illness. Some people equate mental illness with being "crazy". "Crazy?"...no! I'm just a middle-aged woman struggling to survive. I am so scared that I will wind up on the streets. My options are few and I need assistance. For 40 years I have mastered the art of putting on a brave face, smiling, and pretending all is well in my world, when in fact, there are times when I fall apart.
I am a survivor of child molestation, by 3 different men, at 3 different times in my childhood. The trauma was and is so devastating, that it pervades every area of my life. I fear I will never be able to cope with, or even forgive the monsters that stole my innocence.
As a result, currently I have no financial means to support myself. I am asking for your help, so that I can support myself for a few months.
Please forgive the photo. I will add more in a day or two.
May God bless you and keep you!
Organizer
Donna Kimber
Organizer
Greensboro, NC