Hi Family, Friends and Neighbors near and far,

I am writing this with a humble heart. I’m not someone who usually asks for help—I’ve always preferred to work two or three jobs to make ends meet rather than reach out—but I have reached a point where I just can’t keep up anymore.

The Financial Crisis

For years, I have been working tirelessly to maintain our household. Recently, however, my second job hired a large number of seasonal staff, and my hours were cut drastically. Despite my best efforts to find replacement work, the financial damage happened quickly.  My rent is now overdue, and debt is piling up fast. I am physically and mentally exhausted trying to keep the lights on and food on the table for all of us.

The "Perfect Storm"

Life has thrown several heavy obstacles at us all at once:

Car Repairs & School: My car recently needed urgent, expensive repairs. My daughter, who is currently in community college and working hard to transfer to a university here in California, used her own savings to help me fix it so we could both keep getting to work and school. That safety net is now gone.

My Son’s Surgery: My son is moving back home for a few months to undergo a life-changing surgery. It is a critical procedure, and his surgeon anticipates a recovery time of up to 90 days. He will be out of work during this time with no income. He is coming home so I can care for him, but I need to make sure we have a stable home for him to recover in.

Our Household: I am also trying to care for our rescue family—dogs, cats, and my daughter’s rabbit, Ruby.

How You Can Help

Between the rent increases, the cut in my work hours, and the looming costs of my son’s recovery, I am overwhelmed. I live with anxiety and depression, amongst other physical ailments and while I try to keep a "poker face" and act like everything is okay, inside I am terrified of losing our housing right when my son needs me most.

I am asking for support to help cover:

Overdue Rent: To secure our housing immediately.

Utilities & Groceries: To keep the household running while I care for my son.  Medical Recovery Support: To help my son get through his 90-day recovery period until he can return to his job and to gather some supplies needed during recovery.  He has a job waiting for him when he is healed, and big plans to move north to a more affordable area eventually—but first, we have to get him through this surgery.

Please, if you can help, anything and everything will make a difference. If you cannot donate, please share this link. I haven’t given up, but I really need a village right now.

With love and gratitude,

Susie & Family