Hi, If you know me then you know I am friends with Dollie Stewart, an 83 year-old widow with an impossibly limited income. Dollie has lived in her home for nearly 30 years, but in the last 3 years her rent has significantly increased, leaving her with about $150 a month to pay utilities, groceries, and medicine. Through GoFundMe, your generosity helped fund her rent for the last 2 years. This was the difference between eviction and keeping her in her home.

One year later, everything has changed and nothing has changed; her mobility has deteriorated and she's taken a few tumbles, which is distressing because staying in her home is her only option. The government seems hellbent on cutting the social safety net for vulnerable individuals and we all know it will only get worse. With her SNAP and Medicaid benefits under threat and her rent taking 85% of her income, I am worried.

So, I am asking again (and I know it's a big ask, especially during these unsettling times). I hope to raise $3,000 to cover 4 months’ rent for Dollie. I will then cover a fifth month’s rent. The money raised will be sent directly to her landlord. Any additional funds raised will go towards arranging for some type of home care.

I know Dollie is one of thousands who needs help in Franklin County, and if you donate to the many agencies who try to put a dent in alleviating hardship, thank you. But Dollie is my one in a thousand. She is a tenacious, tenderhearted woman, who has been navigating poverty her entire life, and deserves a rest from the struggle.

Thank you.

Sue Harshe