Marc Needs a Catalytic Converter, etc.

If you don't know me or TL;DR...

Hey, I'm Marc! I'm a long-time speech and debate coach on the PSCFA circuit (SoCal if that acronym means nothing to you). I coach at both Cal State San Marcos and Palomar College. In the more distant past, I had been associated with San Diego State and Long Beach. More recently, I had helped out both Illinois College and Pitt at this year's NFA.

If that doesn't mean anything to you, I'd hope, or at least like to think, most people that know me even remotely well might describe me as a chill, kind, and insightful dude. I'm also a low-key creative and am hoping to submit an eventual draft of a fantasy novel for publication, as well as put out a bunch of short stories in the near future.

I need a little bit of assistance covering costs on my catalytic converter. Any help is appreciated!

If you do know me...

Well, friends and family, things aren't great on this particular front. I have tried my best to stay on top of things and keep my operating costs relatively low - alas, Vader, my dear '08 Scion who has actually been with me since November 2007, is quite old and her costs are not low in one respect.

She needs a new catalytic converter, otherwise she can't get registered, because she won't pass a smog check. A rough triple tangle that one. An initial estimate put this at $1400 from a few months ago (which I could have paid myself as soon as a check comes in - alas, ETA unknown) has now ballooned to a given estimate of $2100 total for parts and labor on the catalytic converter. This does not include my needed costs for registration or the smog check itself which should be just under $300 or so.

The work I normally do coaching speech and debate is functionally done for the school year. My volunteer work judging and coaching for CSUSM also switched from being paid to unpaid when I took over as the lone coach for a time. Had that work been paid at my normal rate, I'd still be short. I have some Summer work lined up to make money on the side, and I'm fully tasked with wrapping my thesis at present, and then looking for interim work in the next few months before I can finally, hopefully start teaching as an adjunct in the Fall.

That said, I should be steering toward financially stability long-term but this is an imminent short-term cost I just can't swing by myself.

I have usually, when able, anonymously donated to these when I've seen them myself to the tune of $20-50, so I hope y'all can return the kindness and help a dude out. If you have the means and inclination to give any amount though, it would obviously be greatly appreciated.