Hi. I’m Mandy. I’m 22 years old. I’ll just jump straight to the point. I’m going to be really transparent. I hate asking for help. It makes me so uncomfortable but, things aren’t working out for me lately, and I could really use it.

1. I live in Bellingham, WA. I have Chrohn’s disease and for the past 6 years I’ve been getting bi-monthly infusions to treat it. I’ve been blessed with being in remission since getting a bowel resection surgery at 16 and starting my Remicade infusions. It saved my life. My current treatment center is in Everett, WA, roughly an hour from my apartment. On Tuesday March 18th, after leaving my infusion, I was on the highway when my car stopped gassing. It slowed down until it stopped moving at all and I had to get it towed to a lot. A lot happened in between that and getting it diagnosed but, long story short, my transmission is completely blown and needs replaced. The cost of everything is just under $8k. It’s either that, or towe the junk car to my apartment and keep making payments on it for the next 3 ish years until it’s payed off (I still owe $8,049 on it) & I can sell it, AND buy a new one as soon as I can afford to. I’m going to be taking the bus and I’m working on finding a bike, until something shakes.

2. I moved to Bellingham from Seattle in October and the job world here is so limited, in my perspective and experience. The 2 jobs I have found, that I no longer have were, to put it nicely, not a good fit. I’m struggling to even get interviews for positions I’m overqualified for. I have been jobless, for the first time since I was 15, for the past month. I don’t know why I’m having such a hard time, but I am. And to add to that, I’ve been sick with an upper respiratory infection/virus for nearly a month now and it’s been relentless. Even if I do get an interview and/or job in the next few days, it’s no guarantee I can start immediately due to being sick. So… That’s that.

3. My monthly bills:

Rent: $997.50

Car payment: $216.11

Electricity: $150 roughly

Credit cards (2): $190

Food: $150 roughly

Total: $1703.61

That is how much it costs for me to pay for the things I use to survive month to month. Now add the cost of repairing my car. Or buying a new one. That’s the stress I’m dealing with.

So, to close this off…

I’ve been working since I was 15. I got my permit immediately, got my license immediately, started a business at 18, have kept 2-3 jobs at once for the last 4 years… and moved to WA from Indianapolis 2 years ago pretty much on my own. I’m not in college, but I have enrolled in the culinary arts program at BTC for the fall semester and now, I’m not sure I can afford it/have the time. I hate how much this sounds like I need sympathy.

I just. Need. Help.

I feel embarrassed putting myself out there like this. But I’m burnt out. I’m worn down… And any little bit of money helps me get a little bit closer to getting out of this hole.

I’ve set my fundraising goal a lot lower than what I actually need right now, because even just $1K would change my life right now. Or a few hundred. Anything.

Whatever it is, THANK YOU.