Hi. My name is Linda McManus. For the past 26 years, I have worked as an English teacher at the very high school I attended, the place where I decided to become a teacher and give back to my community. I put myself through college to achieve this goal, and became the first member of my family to graduate. Recently, however, a new administrator at my school decided that I was to be put through a hearing to determine if my performance was aligned with his vision, and after a year-long hearing, the arbitrator decided on termination. As a result of this, I was quickly removed from a 26-year position and from payroll. As many Americans do, I have been living paycheck to paycheck, and the sudden loss of income has been devastating. I am a single woman living alone, raised in a working class family, without any means of support. As I begin my first job search in nearly three decades, the very frightening reality of upcoming rent, utilities and need for food and other daily expenses is still upon me. Therefore, I am humbly reaching out to the community I have served for twenty-six years and anyone who has the means to assist others to please help me maintain my living space and basic needs over these next few months while I actively seek a new job and a secure future.

Any and all help is appreciated beyond any words I can say here. Thank you so much.