Help Get Me Through August, September and Start Seminary!

Hi friends! Good news, I got into Luther Seminary and in September I’ll resume my long and winding path to a Master of Divinity!

Bad news, I am in between contracts with the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Culinary and Wellness Services department (budget cuts are the worst), and due to the fact that my job before my MPS position was in church ministry, and churches don’t have to pay into unemployment, the wages I made from that church are not considered “eligible wages” when calculating an unemployment benefit. Thus, I am unfortunately ineligible for unemployment because I didn’t make enough “eligible wages.”

I’ve been leading musical worship at many generous and awesome churches over the summer and I was originally planning on the 2nd half of my income coming from unemployment. As such, I am quickly running out of cash on hand and my August bills (thankfully rent isn’t a concern) are rapidly approaching. They total about $2,000

On top of that, my car is quickly turning into a screaming banshee and needs around $1,000 in repairs to get it functional again.

My new contract with MPS resumes on August 18th but I won’t get my first paycheck until September 5th. I would also like to use funds from a student loan to help my situation but I’m presently waiting on my loan amount to be determined and then for those funds to actually be disbursed. UPDATE 8/21: My student loans won’t be disbursed to me until Sept. 15th at the earliest - so I need your help paying my rent, health insurance, utility bills, and divorce legal fees for the beginning of September as well.

Any mutual aid or help you can provide me is greatly appreciated.