Dear friends,

I find myself in dire circumstances: Grammy passed away and left me with a ballooning mortgage on our beautiful home. The monthly fee is set to increase in July! I was also laid off from my lucrative ballet teaching position due to my recent total hip replacement surgery. I have been desperately seeking employment for several weeks now; however, there has been very little response. I fear losing my home to foreclosure, as well as defaulting on my credit cards. I've never been so strained financially, and I've never been so stressed with grief for my darling Grammy. I pride myself on my self-sufficiency, and I am so humbled by recent events. I have been acquiring food from local food pantries and rationing it. I am hoping and praying my career situation improves soon. I have never been more insecure or frightened in my life. Thank you for contributing what you can. I am so grateful, humbled, and hopeful.