Hello, my name is Pam and man am I embarrassed to feel like I have to resort to this...

On May 13th, the day after Mother's Day, I was unexpectedly laid off from my job with no explanation. I diligently applied for SNAP and unemployment and started looking for jobs immediately. I was approved for both. I am also eligible under section 599 of the unemployment insurance benefits because I am in school full time. Until about a month ago, I was receiving unemployment that I qualified for and it was then deemed that I earned "too much" to qualify for SNAP anymore... by how much, you ask? EIGHT DOLLARS. Yes, you read that correctly.

Unexpectedly, my last payment from unemployment was 7/2, right before the Fourth of July. The last who weeks I have received NOTHING despite filing my weekly claims. I have called on several days, at several different times throughout the day,to no avail. You get an automated message that says something to the tune of "we are experiencing an unusually high call volume. All of our agents are currently busy helping other callers. Please try your call again between normal business hours, Monday - Friday, 8am to 5pm" then it HANGS UP ON YOU. There is no option to leave a call back number, no option to wait on hold... NOTHING. The last two weeks I've cried probably a million times, I'm more depressed than I've probably ever felt, and so overwhelmed & stressed I can't even take it anymore. I don't get SNAP, my unemployment is missing and I can't talk to anyone about it to inquire about what the F is going on. I just had to give Spectrum $50 to restore my internet so I could continue doing school work, I had to pay a babysitter while I was at school this weekend, and I had to borrow $30 to simply cover the cost of feminine products and bring my bank account back to $0.00. I called 211 today to check about rental assistance and the only options open up on August 1st and they are to help so you don't get evicted and I'm not sure I'd even qualify for that, but it is a RISKY move to wait on a slight maybe.

My daughter constantly says we are poor and/or don't have any money, and that we don't have a house to live in (when we do) but if this continues to happen, we won't... I'm on a month-to-month lease and at any moment, my landlord could give me a notice to move out. I've never been behind on rent and I don't want to start now because there is NO way for me to recover from getting behind. I have to make EVERY single PENNY stretch. I've tried to offer babysitting/nannying over the summer while I'm still in school with no luck at finding anyone.

Rent is due on the 1st (which is $1270,) my Verizon bill is on auto pay (to save monthly) and will be deducted from my account on the 27th. My co-pays from RRH are starting to add up because I've had a few specialty appointments recently. my RG&E bill is out of control no matter how conscious I try to be about running the AC. My ESL account is currently -$13.84. I feel defeated. I feel helpless. I feel weak. I feel pathetic. I feel hopeless. I feel like trash.

To simply put it, I need help and I HATE asking for it. If you truly know me, you know that I wouldn't be doing this unless I felt it was absolutely necessary. I'd give the shirt off my back if I knew someone needed it. and when I'm in a position where I can, I always give back and help others. I know it's hard times for a lot of people right now but I don't want to lose my house and to have my daughter's worst nightmare come true that we don't have anywhere to live. I'm doing my best to get everything straightened out but life is working against me currently.

I would be grateful far beyond words could explain for any donation to help keep my little family afloat for the time being. Again, I wouldn't be doing this unless I felt there weren't other options to try first.