Please help keep me and the good work going!

This request is odd and uncomfortable for me but seems to be necessary. I am a longtime Fairbanks resident, US Army & Alaska National Guard veteran, and prior firefighter/EMT here in the borough. I am also a community volunteer helping friends and strangers in many ways including I stop and help people on the road, check on stranded drivers, block traffic so people can get pulled out of ditches, I pick up bags and other items for a week for Clean Up Day for over 20 years, I created and organize the annual Fairbanks Holiday Food Drive since 2014, I participate in Bowl For Kids Sake for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, coordinate traffic & safety (signs and road closures) for the annual Midnight Sun Run for over 20 years, and more. I LOVE FAIRBANKS! For years I've said, "I'm not here to save the world, I just try to improve the part of it that crosses my path."

 

Two years ago, I was injured on the job and started a Workers Compensation claim. Last year, I was hospitalized with COVID twice; once spending 5 days in ICU after being 'within hours' (per my doctor) of dying. Through local assistance programs and the precious generosity of friends, I have made it up to now being unemployed/unable to work due to the WC claim process. There are no other available resources known to me at this time and I am down to my last $47.00 today, January 26. I had $7.00 and sold a TV stand for $40 last night.

 

My rent is paid from agency programs through March but I have around $700.00/month needed for bills and gas for my truck and I believe I will need $1,150.00 rent money for April; our hope is the WC claim will be finalized by then. I don't know what to do; I feel down & desperate. Anything given in this will be noted and I will pay it back to you or, if you wish, an organization as a donation to their efforts. I know times are tough for many. If you can help at all with this, I will be more than sincerely grateful. I was once asked why I give to others and do what I do. I said it's because the act needed to be done and I enjoy doing it. My friend immediately replied, "Then don't deny another person to feel joy by helping you." Hmph, okay. My favorite quote is by Edward Everett Hale, "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." THANK YOU for your time in reading this; I appreciate you. Take care.