Friends,

Like many of you, this year has been an unrelenting struggle to stay afloat. Amid the challenges, I found a glimmer of hope in a job I loved, slowly piecing my life back together after the hardships of the pandemic. For the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to believe things might finally be turning around.

But life, as it often does, had other plans. Despite treading carefully and savoring small moments of relief, I could never have anticipated the storm that would upend everything, leaving me where I am today—desperate, afraid, and clinging to hope by a thread.

What unfolded feels like a cruel twist of fate, each setback stacking upon the last, as though ripped from a darkly absurd novel. Here’s what the year has brought:

In January, I was accosted by someone in leadership at my job.

In April, I battled a severe case of bronchitis and pneumonia.

In May, I was laid off despite achieving marked growth in my role.

In July, I contracted shingles—a truly agonizing experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

In August, I fell down a flight of stairs, injuring my knee and requiring ongoing physical therapy.

In November, my unemployment benefits ran out, leaving me with just $30 to my name.

And now my landlord is breathing down my neck demanding rent I do not have.

The outlook is bleak.

All of this is compounded by the fact that I live with a spine injury and chronic pain, making every day a physical challenge. The SSDI application process, as many of you know, is painfully slow, and navigating it while trying to survive has been overwhelming.

Still, I know that many of you are facing your own challenges, and I don’t take that lightly. With a deep sense of humility and no expectations, I’m reaching out in the hope that you—my friends, family, and even kind strangers—might lend a helping hand as I work tirelessly to improve my situation and regain stability.

Whether it’s a dollar, a kind word, or simply sharing this message, any support means the world to me. In return, I’m ready and eager to offer my skills and time:

Have a problem? I’ll find a solution.

Need a grant written? Say no more—just share the details, and I’ll make it happen.

Your generosity, in whatever form it takes, would be a lifeline during this difficult time, and I’m endlessly grateful for your consideration.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Julie