My name is Donald Gilbert, and I am a retired, disabled teacher from the Baltimore City school system. I contracted COVID-19 in March of 2020 and been a long hauler ever since. I was forced due to my disability to retire with disability from teaching. The state of Maryland recognized my condition as a disability and was nice enough to put me on disability retirement. Ever since that, my life has been filled with stress and fear of surviving both physically, mentally, and the biggest, financially. I have just enough money from disability with the state of Maryland teachers’ pension to be months behind on everything. My family has helped tremendously but I CANNOT get caught up. My low credit score due to me having to max everything out, being late on everything beyond 90 days, and having to beg and plead with every single bill company from the mortgage company, to utilities, and everything in between, makes for a very stressful and non-fulfilling life. I cannot get a loan because my credit history, I cannot get forbearances because I make too much they said, and I cannot get caught up because I am so far behind. I need help.

Here is where the story really begins…I have for the past 2 and half years to apply for social security disability(SSID), only to be turned down every time due to not being disabled enough. Everything my cardiologist, specialists, primary care, behavioral and physical mentalist doctors have said means nothing to SSID. They said since I can basically walk a little , sit a little, and understand what is happening, I am not disabled. How can that be, I am medicated all the time making me extremely fatigued and to the point of having to rest most of the time. I try to go out and do things but its hard, but I try. Every week, I am afraid of losing my house, the electricity, water, or not having the internet to connect with my doctors virtually for my disability.

I have setup up a GoFundMe page to ask for your help. You do not have to but it would be greatly appreciated. When I go to the store or the doctors, I see people and talk to people and hear stories of how they got SSID or government assistance when they don’t really need it, they laugh and joke about it. I see on TV that everyone gets assistance from the government, local, state, and federal but I don’t. I spend 30+ years in education with most in Baltimore City helping kids that really need it and when I need it, no one from the government or state is there.

Please help me understand why I can’t get a loan approval, refinance approval, government assistance approval, or help from anyone. That’s why I am asking for a loan or support though GoFundMe. My story could be a lot longer and more pitiful but I don’t want to have you read 20 pages of what I went through so far. Please respond with ways to help me or by donating, I am open to any and everything.

I am just an old teacher, who cannot provide anymore, that need financial help, from people who know better and can help me with my situation. I will be sending this out to everyone, famous people, business people, government officials, sports/entertainment, former colleagues and friends…every one….I need help please.

Thank you

Donald Gilbert