I first started to earn an income when was 9 years old, doing laundry, housekeeping and providing companionship for an agoraphobic neighbor. While I am not in favor of putting 9 year old children to work, I am grateful for my life experiences, which instilled in me a good work ethic and the ability to manage responsibility early in life.

The past three years of my career have been perhaps the most challenging. Three years ago I was recruited by someone I once considered a friend, to manage and grow their business. I had known this person for 10 years, and from what I knew, they were on the up and up. On paper, the position appeared to be perfect for me. I had a good contract and I was so excited about the opportunity. It turned out this person was not operating with integrity, and when I voiced my concerns about some conflicts of interest and ethics issues, the work environment became hostile. During this time, I had a freak accident while working in my garden, which resulted in a severe hip fracture requiring emergency surgery. I was made to feel guilty by my employer, for not being able to work, and just as I was beginning to recover and returned to work, I was terminated, in violation of my contract. (Lesson: A contract is only good if both parties honor it.) Unfortunately I had to litigate, and by the time the matter was settled, I not only had medical bills waiting to be paid but also attorney’s fees.
 
I finally found another position, which I held for two and half years. Once again, I went to work for someone I used to consider a friend. In my new position, I was making significantly less than I had made in the past, but I adjusted my lifestyle and managed to get by. I finally got all of my medical bills paid, and then started chipping away at the debt that had mounted during the period I was unemployed.  I was determined that 2016 was going to be my year to not only catch up, but get ahead financially, and I was working diligently to make that happen. I was doing everything I could on my end, but the company I was working for was not delivering on theirs. I was constantly putting out their fires, and trying to maintain my accounts’ trust in me and our products. It didn’t occur to me that the fires I thought I was putting out were actually blazing elsewhere, and the company was in trouble, which eventually resulted in the elimination of my position.

So, that brings me to this page, asking for your help, which is very difficult for me. I told very few people about breaking my hip and losing my job 3 years ago, and many people were disappointed when they found out much later, expressing their regret that they had not been allowed to help out. My early life experiences not only helped me to develop a strong work ethic and to handle responsibility, they also made me fiercely independent, sometimes to a fault. I have always delighted in helping others, and I have come to understand that others also delight in helping me.

Since getting laid off I have applied for many positions and have only been invited for a few interviews, none of which paid a living wage. I have to pay for someone to care for my adult son with autism when I am at work, and if a position is offering less than the hourly rate I pay my son’s caregiver...well, I don't have to explain the math. 

I realized that I have to think outside the box and I have found something that I believe is going to afford me the opportunity to utilize my strong work ethic and many years of experience in sales, especially my experience in the natural products industry, and achieve my financial goals.  It is going to fulfill many of the criteria that make me happiest in a career, most importantly the ability to create opportunities for self-employment for other women. It will also offer me the flexible hours I need because of my son. It will take awhile for me to build my business so that I have sufficient income to meet living expenses and see to my son’s needs. I am asking for your help to get caught up financially since being laid-off, and meet expenses for the next few months while I get my business up and running. 

Thank you for reading this and for any amount you can provide.  I am deeply grateful for your support.