Hi. I'm Cecily, and that's Charlie, my husband of nearly 30 years. I do marketing, social media management, and design for small businesses. Charlie is a writer/editor. We have a 19yo kiddo who lives with us.

We're facing a cascade of urgent problems beyond our control.

After I lost my full time work in October/November of 2024, it took until July of 2025 to sign on enough new work to just barely cover rent/bills. We also received SNAP benefits and state healthcare. We thought we would be okay. My kid started college full time last month.

That fragile stability lasted only eighteen days.

Then everything collapsed at once. A client put my contract on hold for two months. Another cut the contract hours in half. Yet another had to terminate our contract because the client cancelled the project. Then, just three days before we expected to get our SNAP funds to stock up the empty fridge and cupboards, all three of us lost our healthcare and SNAP benefits. We're re-applying and are hopeful it will be re-established, but it's hard to say.

I really didn't want to start this fundraising effort. We know it's a tough time for many, which makes asking harder.

Here's where things stand — and why we urgently need help.

• Despite everything we can, we are behind on our rent, again. It was actually our landlord who encouraged us to launch this GoFundMe — she’s been incredibly patient, but she’s hurting too.

• We expected our SNAP funds on the 3rd of October, but even if we get approved quickly, we will not be getting it in time to feed us this month.

• We now need to pay cash for our medications, including my $600/month inhaler and Charlie's heart meds.

• Our car is out of inspection. Now, even though it’s insured and legally registered, the city has marked it for towing as ‘abandoned’ because we don’t have a private driveway — only street parking. and now the police want to tow it as abandoned. The car isn't worth much, but we can't get afford another car.

I really don't know what else to do. I hope you can help but I so understand if you cannot. Sending love to you and yours as well.