<div>Hi Critters,
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<div>Jazzy &amp; I have been going through a rather difficult time lately and really need some help. We’ve always done our best to work hard and try to keep everything afloat. But, we’ve gone through several situations that have left us struggling to afford basic necessities &amp; pay our bills. We’re down to our last $4.00 and we’re not sure what to do. We’ve been very stressed out and scared of what happens next.
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<div>When we moved to Washington, we lived in Bellevue for 3 months. Our roommates decided that they wanted someone else to rent out the room, and left us scrambling to figure out where to go. Fortunately, we have a really wonderful support system out here. We met a lot of really great critters, both online before moving here, and in person after. We spent 4.5 months staying with friends until we were able to get our own den again, here in Seattle. Seattle, this den, &amp; this community are our home. &lt;3
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<div>We worked hard to find our den &amp; moved in on the 28th of February. We were on track to achieving stability when everything started happening. On the 31st of March, around 1:30am, I received the call that my father passed away. It was the worst news I’ve ever received and I miss my dad so much. I couldn’t process it and didn’t go to sleep for several hours. That morning, I was supposed to start my new job as a leasing consultant and had to postpone it while we grieved and made plans to go out to Oneida, NY for my dad’s end of life arrangements.
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<div>My dad recently beat cancer prior to his passing, and one of the last things he sent me was a video of him ringing the bell. He told us over the last few years that he was setting aside an emergency fund for Jazzy &amp; I to go to New York in case of an emergency related to his health. My dad was staying with a former friend in his building due to his health, and was making plans &amp; getting new medical equipment in order to stay in his own apartment again. While staying with his friend, he would see her aide and her aide’s partner often.
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<div>The following day, his friend, her aide, and her aide’s partner informed us in a call that the emergency fund was stolen and we had to use whatever we could to get to New York to take care of my dad’s wishes. They promised us a way back to Washington. When we got to NY, we went to the police (as much as we dislike dealing with them) because somebody stole from him. We quickly discovered it was them, and that they stole just about everything before &amp; after he passed including his pug. We also discovered that they may have intentionally meddled with his medical equipment on several occasions before his passing. They quickly started threatening our lives, harassing us, and trying to intimidate us. We had to bounce between his friends in order to stay safe. We still haven’t heard any answers regarding the investigation into my dad’s death.
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<div>We felt stranded and afraid, but made it back to Washington with the help of the community, our friends, and almost everything we had left in our bank accounts. Jazzy’s hours were cut completely, and I started work when we returned home to Seattle. We went down to half an income, and I was working as hard as I could to get us caught up. We could only afford bills for a while and our rent kept building up. I couldn’t even afford to have my dad’s funeral, since he wanted a specific one later in the year. On the 19th of May, I received another call. I was informed that my boss passed away. He was a really great person and did a lot for others. The regional manager stepped in, and things quickly went sour at work. I wasn’t receiving help with issues I needed managers to take care of, while running two apartment buildings alone without a property management position.
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<div>Eventually, I started being treated poorly and being made an example of constantly. Then I was suddenly fired on the 3rd of July after several days of little to no communication from management, which felt like limbo. I got the official email a few days later, on the 6th. We went down to having no income, and it feels like everything we worked hard to build up &amp; achieve has come crashing down.
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<div>The lady who used to work in the office at our building was doing an unofficial payment plan with us for a few months, so we could get caught up on rent. She always made sure we were doing okay, and was unfortunately forced into signing off on a 30 Day Pay to Vacate notice by corporate in June. With the help of the community and my final check from work, we paid that balance off in July. However, we are left without income right now and have fallen behind again for August.
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<div>Our electric and other utilities are past due as well, and we're worried they may be shut off soon. We also have a storage unit here in Seattle for our belongings, and one in New York State for stuff we need to bring back when we can have my dad’s funeral. At the time of writing this, it is the 5th of August, and we have until the end of the day on the 6th or both storage units will be locked up. We were flagged on our Seattle unit due to accidentally staying behind after closing one day, and one more flag leads to eviction. We are also 30 days behind on our vehicle and they are attempting to take out the bill today. If it doesn’t go through, it will hit our credit which makes it harder to find a new place if we lose ours or move at the end of our lease. Volkswagen is also threatening to repossess our vehicle.<strong>**</strong>
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<div><strong>**Edit #1: </strong>We received an extension on our storage units, but had to cover late fees for one of them. Our need was met on the Seattle storage unit for August to avoid it being locked up, but we haven't been able to cover the one in New York with my dad's belongings. I'm hoping that one won't be locked up so I can keep irreplaceable items from being lost.
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<div>Our needs were also met for toiletries, but we've had to spend extra to make sure we can continue covering daily living expenses. &lt;3
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<div>Our car payment is still beyond past 30 days, and I keep receiving notices from Volkswagen that we're at risk of losing our vehicle.
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<div>I recently used my credit card for the first time thinking I would be able to pay it on time as I intended. The credit card bill is due by the 9th and it will also affect our credit, which makes it very difficult to find another den in the future. Other bills such as insurance, internet, and phone service have been/are at risk of being affected. (<strong>Edit #2:</strong> Our phones have been shut off as of 08/22, then reinstated with an extension until 08/30.)
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<div>We also have to pay for laundry and can’t afford to wash &amp; dry our clothes. We haven’t been able to get trash bags, and we’ve run out of toilet paper. We’ve been relying on food donations from a close friend in order to eat. Everything is falling apart, and we are so afraid. We don’t know how to fix everything while we find work/look into ways of bringing in money. We don’t know what to do and we can’t give up. It’s not over yet.
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<div><strong>Your support would help us cover:</strong>
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<li>$486.27 - Past due car payment.*
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<li>$157.00 - Past due Seattle storage unit.<strong>* (Need met)*</strong>
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<li>$137.00 - Past due storage unit for dad's belongings.*
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<li>$200.55 - Credit card.*
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<li>$386.00 - Past due car insurance. (It missed two payments, lapsed, and we’re being threatened with collections.)*
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<li>$30.00 - Few weeks of laundry.
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<li>$40.00 - Toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, dish soap, and wipes.<strong>* (Need met)*</strong>
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<li>$177.14 - Past due Seattle City Light (July).
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<li>$200.00 - Past due water, sewer, &amp; trash (July).
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<li>$1,210.00 - August rent &amp; fee.
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<li>$1,200.00 - September rent.
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<li>$142.80 - Internet (July &amp; August).
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<li>$150.00 - Est. Seattle City Light (for August).
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<li>$151.12 - Lapsed Renter’s Insurance.
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<li>$50.00 - Est. New renters insurance premium.
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<li>$157.00 - Seattle storage unit (September).
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<li>$137.00 - Storage unit for dad's belongings (September).
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<li>$486.27 for car (August).
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<li>$60.00 for gas.
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<li>$339.05 - Phone bill for August (including late fees.)
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<li>$150.00 - Est. New car insurance premium payment.
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<li>$70.00 - New shoes for Jazzy, since his are causing pain &amp; falling apart.
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<div>We're not giving up, and we're going to keep fighting. Once we get over this hurdle, we should be able to continue working towards getting back on track!
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<div>Every little bit helps right now, and truly means more than we can put into words. Even sharing helps immensely!
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<div>Jazzy &amp; I really appreciate all of the love and support we've received throughout these situations, and also now! This community is a pack of critters looking out for each other. What everyone has done for us means a lot, and it also means a lot to see what we all do for each other. Jazzy &amp; I want to more for this community that we all call home, and we can pay this forward one paw at a time.~ &lt;3
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<div>Thank you, critters!
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<div>If you want to send us a message, our Telegrams are @Lycandoit &amp; @Demon_Wolfy. &lt;3
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theo geer

James McKay

Help Yotie & Jazzy Stay Afloat

Still $3,804 to go. Help us build momentum.