Normally I would never do this because it feels like I'm begging, but we need a new roof and I just cannot afford it. 

I am a 64-year-old woman, permanently disabled and have my daughter and her three children - ages 13, 10 and 3 months - living with me.  Everything was going along well until my daughter's husband died of lung cancer - he had never smoked at all - at the age of 33 in 2005.  In the meantime, I became disabled and had to stop working in 2006.  I had a very decent job at a law firm and things were still okay.  Then one day - June 12, 2009 - my long-time partner, David, died suddenly of aortic dissection.  That made us without two breadwinners in the house.  Since then things have been going downhill, each year more difficult than the last.

My roof started leaking and we did the best we could to patch it up.  Of course, it got progressively worse.  There are leaks in all of the upstairs rooms and in our hallway now.  I've had roofers out to try to repair it and they say it cannot be just repaired; we need a new roof.  At the time, the price would be $5,000.  I just don't have this money and don't see how I will get it in the foreseeable future.

If it weren't absolutely necessary, I would never ask total strangers for donations, but as you can see from the picture on this appeal, there are three kids living here with me.

Anything you can do would be very much appreciated.  I can only tell you that I thank you and will be forever grateful for your kindness.