MAY 1ST UPDATE:

HELLO ALL,

My husband is back to work with new brakes!

My car is at the mechanic's; we received an estimate of $5000+ for a new transmission. We might be getting help with paying for this, but it has not been confirmed.

Since we both lost a week of work, we are behind on bills. We are presently scraping up the funds to pay for the rent that is due TODAY. With the remainder GoFundMe funds that have not already been used, plus monies we have received for items I have been selling on social media, and the $ my husband has made since getting his wheels back, we ALMOST have enough for rent. We still need $300. We have until May 3rd to pay the rent without being LATE.

Any donation amounts we receive above that will go towards other bills that we haven't been able to pay, since only one of us is presently working.

SO it looks like we are almost out of the woods, but not quite. We won't be on solid ground until I can get my car back and start earning a second income.

So many have helped with donations and prayers, and we are most thankful.

UPDATE:

We received a generous donation that allowed us to get my husband's car in for repair. (Free towing from State Farm, yay!)

We have received enough funds to pay one of Diran's car payments.

I was able to get a deferment on my car payments, which helps us for now.

We will be using the local food pantries to get our groceries and household needs taken care of, so we can use that money towards bills.

We now need to focus on getting my car repaired. At this point the cost is unknown. I am guessing it is transmission related, and will cost 4k or more. I will update when I know more.

Again, thank you so much for your generosity in funds and prayers. Sharing this link also helps us.

God bless you!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Salve Maria!

Greetings from Carmel, Indiana.

The Keoshgerians, Diran and Jennifer, have found themselves between a rock and a hard place.

We are both full-time, self-employed DoorDashers. We have been doing well with this, and have chosen to Dash, instead of 'getting a real job' because it pays better than a typical 9 to 5. In January, the brakes and suspension went out on my husband's car. We were given an estimate of $3000 to replace. Not having the funds to fix it, we decided that he would Dash in my car, most of the day, allowing me to stay home and be a housewife, and it would allow me to post items on Ebay to provide extra income. But, this setup was not bringing in the necessary funds to go beyond our day-to-day necessities. We were starting to get behind in payments.

I then decided to Dash in the early morn, when my husband was still sleeping. This was helping our situation a little bit, and we were enthusiastic about our money situation improving.

That is, until this morning.

On my way to church, today, our only drivable car went kaput. I believe it is the transmission, which will probably cost us at least $4000 to repair, which we clearly don't have.

We have been brainstorming all day on next steps to survive, and at the least, to keep the wolf from the door. We are considering walking to a nearby store or business and obtaining a job there. But, the combined income of both in a minimum wage job ,will hardly help us. If this is what we will have to resort to, we will most definitely be compelled to file bankruptcy.

If we are able to raise the funds, we can get at least one car back in service and return to Dashing.

Ideally, if we could get both cars back in service, we could both Dash, and then we would be doing well.

I am certified in Cloud Technology, which is a high-end paying job, but, unfortunately, I am being passed over, most likely for age discrimination.

I am reluctant to ask for help, but have been encouraged to do so by my fellow Catholic friends and family.

My husband and I have been praying the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help for Financial Need since February when we first started experiencing financial difficulties. It seems as if Our Lady has turned a deaf ear to our cries for help, but, I do know that she will help when she is ready, to turn our 'water into wine'. And when that time comes, she will implore her Son to help us.

Perhaps that time is now?

Our first obligation is to get one of the cars back into service as quickly as possible. That is estimated to be $3000, at least.

Our second need is to get caught up on the car payments, which we have struggled to pay due to our situation. That will be $1700.

And thirdly, we really need to get the other car back in service, if we want to get ahead of our money troubles. That is estimated to be $5000.

This is a truly humbling experience for us, but humility is the foundation of all virtues, and surely we will reap some spiritual reward or improvement from this.

I will offer a Mass in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help for all who offer help, whether in prayer, consolation, or funds. May Our Lady bless you, always and forever. You will forever be remembered in my prayers for my benefactors.