Hi everyone,

Thank you so much to everyone who helped my mom and me out so far - it's been a rough year or so, but it means a lot to us that people have shared our GoFundMe, donated, and sent positive messages!!

We are unfortunately still short for rent & bills for the rest of May and June, since despite my efforts and even a final round interview recently, I still haven't found a new job in my field yet (HR/Recruiting), and my retail work hours have been low (8-15 hours a week - also looking for a 2nd part-time job as well). We are about $2000 for short for this month and next.

Original story written in July 2024 & updated in December 2024:

Hi everyone, it's definitely not easy for me to set aside my pride and ask for help, but here I am.

My mom and I are really struggling financially (she lives with me, and I care for and support her financially, aside from a small check she receives monthly), and we do not have enough money to cover our rent and bills in the first half of the month. We are about $1000 short.

I was unemployed for nearly 7 months (since early January until August when I got a low-paying retail job), and while I was able to receive unemployment (from February through July, since it only lasts 6 months), what I was receiving while on unemployment was just over 1/3 of my normal monthly income after tax, and I had to withdraw what little I had in my retirement and savings accounts to live off of.

I have been looking for work since Spring, but I have only had 2 interviews with one company, and was ultimately rejected. I've also been ghosted by many recruiters and managers I've reached out to. This is the toughest job market I’ve seen - there is so much competition, and it's surprising to even hear back from a company at all. Even during the pandemic I had more luck landing interviews (and even went to final rounds with 2 companies in 2021), although it took me a very long time to find work.

I’m looking for something in HR and/or Recruiting that is remote (ideally) or hybrid between Oakland and Martinez (ideally Bart accessible, since I don’t have a car) so I can still be close to my mom in case she needs me. This has limited my search somewhat.

I have also been applying for contract and part-time work. I've been working in retail since August (Nordstrom from mid-August to early November, and B&BW starting in late September to present), but since it pays more $20 less per hour than my normal hourly rate, and isn't full-time, it's less than 1/3 of my normal monthly income would be, and about $400 less per month than unemployment.

I’m really hoping something comes along in the new year.

My best friends have been amazing, and have been helping my mom and I out while I've been looking for a new role and working in retail, but they are also struggling to make ends meet, so it's been difficult for them as well… but they've done it anyway.

We've reached a point where we can't afford our December rent (which is already late and will incur a $60 fee) and some of our bills. Our expenses are nearly $5k per month total, and rent, utilities, & PG&E are nearly $3.5k total - the other $1.5k is for the rest of our bills, groceries, healthcare, and necessities.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and my mom and I would be just as grateful for any positive thoughts and prayers you can send our way.

~ Wendy & Mary Jean