Help for Donna Smith-Tobias

Our friend and former colleague Donna Smith-Tobias needs our help.  Last spring she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer.  For 6 months she underwent chemotherapy, and recently underwent surgery in January.  Fortunately the operation went well and her prognosis is ok, though she'll now need to undergo radiation treatment for another several months.  

Unfortunately, she was also laid off from her job, and due to her health has not been able to look for work for some time.  On her doctor's recommendation she has applied for Social Security disability, but that will not kick in for several months.  In the meantime, things are very tight for her and her daughter Ebony.  Their family has been helping out as much as they can, but even after selling treasured belongings, Donna is not sure how she'll be able to make it through financially.  Basic expenses like rent and utilities are looming, not to mention day to day costs. 

Friends, all of us go through tough times, but as you know,  it seems like Donna and Ebony have had more than their share.  And yet, when I visited with Donna just last week -- you guessed it -- she's looking on the bright side, keeping her chin high and maintaining her sense of humor.  

But -- hard as it is for her to ask -- she needs our help.  Anything you can contribute will be appreciated.   If you can make a donation through this GoFundMe page, it will help her pay for 

- Rent

- Utilities

- Medical Expenses

- Transportation to and from her radiation treatments

- Groceries and other daily expenses

Her rent and utilities come to about $1000/month and her disability doesn't start for another several months, so I've set a goal of $5,000 for now.   But anything you can spare will help, and she will have access to the funds as soon as they're received, even before we achieve that goal.  

Please consider making a donation, and please help spread the word among Donna's friends that you're connected to, or others who may want to help.   Share via email, Facebook, Twitter and by word of mouth. 

Together we can help make a difference for a friend when it matters most.