Furloughed Government Employees Assistance

I was advised by CBS to set up this Gofundme account for people who saw my interview on CBS news and were asking CBS how they could donate to me to help me. I thought that maybe the people at CBS would be the ones offering help. I was shocked and overwhelmed to find that many other people were donating and contacting me to ask how they could help. I never solicited donations nor expected people to donate, especially people who are in worse situations than me. Those people I asked just to pray for me and not donate. All of this started because I was at a Capital Area Food Bank event picking up food when a Washington Post reporter stopped me and asked how I was doing. I was honest about my personal situation, and he put it in an article.  And from there it took off and then CNN and CBS contacted me for interviews. The reason I accepted the interviews was so that I could thank everyone for their donations and let them know that I am going to pay it forward and assist others. But I don't know if that message actually got across in the interviews because of the material that was used. I wasn't expecting to become the topic of discussion on the internet because of how some people have viewed the interviews or the donations. I know that my situation isn’t as bad as other people’s situations. But it is very unfortunate and hurtful how some people have misinterpreted my intentions. I am truly thankful and grateful for all of the donations, big and small. But most of all, I greatly appreciate the words of encouragement and prayers. Thank you all so very much!  Now that the shut down is over, the donations have been disabled.  And I will be able to pay it forward because you all have blessed me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!