PLEASE HELP ME TO GO BACK TO WORK.

I am from Los Angeles, California, born and raised. In 1991, I had a daughter, and just two months after she was born, her mother was tragically killed by a drunk driver. When my daughter was seven, she was diagnosed with autism. I did my best to raise her alone for 14 years, but as her symptoms became more challenging, we moved to New York—the only place we could find the services she needed. After two difficult years, with the help of a friend, I was able to place her in a special UCP home at age 14, where she is still cared for today. She is now 35 and although it is a struggle for her, she is doing as best she can.

For years, I worked driving taxi cabs and trucks, and even owned my own van hauling light freight across the country. Unfortunately, the company I contracted with shut down the van division without much notice, leaving me out of work and scared. I had some savings and was able to rent a car, which allowed me to sign up for gig work that I could manage given my health. However, the rental company decided they didn't want me doing gig work and refused to let me continue renting the car. Now, I find myself in Springfield, Missouri, staying at a homeless shelter with little money and not enough to buy a reliable car. I don't need a new car—just something dependable to help me get back to work and regain stability.

I have never asked for help before, and it's not easy to ask now as I've always been able to care for myself. and realize that there are more deserving fundraisers than mine. but the need is still there. At times, I find myself slipping because I've exhausted all resources with no results. I will continue to hope and pray I can get some help. I am unable to rely on retirement income alone, which is only slightly over $600 a month, and that is after July when I was told I could apply. Once more, I can not remove my daughter from the home where she's thriving just to get her SSI, so that's not an option. Any support would mean the world to me as I try to rebuild my life and continue making decisions for my daughters well-being. Also I can match every $1 donated up to $100.

As stated before, I'm living in a homeless shelter and unfortunately don't have a lot of time here before I must leave, and I'm not in good enough health to survive on the street, so I am very concerned. I continue checking adds online like Facebook Marketplace and Craiglist in hopes of finding a car being donated. I know there are no guarantees when it comes to Donations on go fund me, so I try not to expect anything. Anyway, that's it, I guess, and In advance, thank you so much for your interest.