My name is Dallas and I work as a medical assistant. My husband, my pet rabbit, and I all moved to a new state in February to help me find stable work.

This is Bear. He’s a 2016 Subaru Forester with 150,000 miles on him. Though he might be old and broken, he’s all I have.

In October of 2025 my last car fell apart. After years of living in the harsh winters of Vermont and Boston, I needed to get a new vehicle that could withstand the salt and ice of New England. Although I have been working full-time for over a decade, I couldn’t qualify for a car loan of more than $10,000 at the time.

I thought my luck had turned for the better when I found a Subaru Forester for sale for around that price point. The car drove beautifully on and off the lot, and we even enjoyed a handful of road trips together. I named it Bear, and spent hours of my time cleaning him up both inside and out. However, only a couple of months into owning Bear, his engine began overheating whenever I drove over 45 mph.

After consulting with mechanics, I learned that the engine needs to be replaced, and even a used engine will be a significant expense — maybe even as much as $6,000. This unexpected situation has put me in a difficult position, as I just started a new job and don’t have any savings to fall back on. Because I just got a car loan approved recently, I’m unable to secure another loan to cover the cost of the repairs.

We’re a one-car family, and losing Bear would mean losing everything for us.

Even if you can only afford to send a small amount, that’s still more than I would have had without your help. I’m grateful for any support you can offer, and I appreciate you taking the time to read my story.

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bonus pictures (below): my paintings and my 7 year old rabbit, so you know I’m not a computer