I am on Social Security disability, which about covers the monthly bills, nothing more.

I was counting myself lucky during the massive snow storm of 2 weeks ago which hit the greater Pittsburgh area. It seems like Mckees Rocks had lucked out at first. Unfortunately that luck didn't hold out. The ice dams formed on my 5 year old roof and started funneling water back into my house. Overnight on the 27th the water must have started seeping back into the house, because on Jan. 28th I woke to a crashing sound and the kitchen ceiling caved in.

I called my insurance company, then a friend who's a handyman to put up some plastic on the ceiling, then started cleaning up. On the 29th, I woke up to the tarp half down, and more of the ceiling fallen in. There was a week plus lag time from when I filed the claim to when the adjuster finally got here yesterday.

I have a couple of friends who've privately helped me cover a contractor to break up the ice dams to prevent any further damage. I haven't been able to pay my friend/handyman yet, and I don't know how long it will take insurance to process the claim.

I am going to need help covering the deductible. And there are some things like the food in the cupboards which got ruined that insurance said they won't cover. Additionally I don't want to think about the overages on my heating bill, with sub-zero overnight lows and only a plastic tarp between the kitchen and open attic.

I realize things are tight for many people right now. If I had the ability to pick up additional jobs to help cover the costs I would. I have worked more than one job most of my life, but now I can't even guarantee I can make it out the door on any given day.