My magic wand broke, my spaceship ran out of fuel, and velociraptors are banging on my door. I am broke and I need help.

Jobs provided fewer hours or ended sooner than promised, or disappeared altogether. Health crises hit. Life-falls-apart situations overwhelmed everything. I’ve been scraping by due to my savings, my single credit card, and the generosity of friends. I’ve stretched my resources as far as I can, but now the cupboard is bare, my bank accounts are dry, and my car doesn’t run.

I never thought I would need to reach out to strangers on the interwebz and it is very hard for me to ask for help, but here I am, asking for your help.

$10,000 would catch me up, keep me afloat while I hunt down a job or three, and keep me from hyperventilating from anxiety while I pay my rent, fix my car, and get new tires.

I don’t assume I will get that much—it’s an ask. But anything I receive will make me gleefully grateful, ease my over-the-top stress, and will help keep the velociraptors from my door.