I have lost one of my jobs and need help
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A few months ago the people on GoFundMe were unbelievably generous and donated enough money for me to buy a used car and then to repair it. I am embarrassed and ashamed to have to come back and ask for more help, this time because I have lost one of my jobs and I am entering a major financial crisis for this summer.
I am 69 years old and my primary source of income is about $1000/month from Social Security. I have continued to work part time teaching college classes and working at direct care in a group home for autistic adults. These jobs bring in about $500/month each. I barely get by on this amount of income.
But in the summer I am only getting one class instead of two, and for the one class I will only be getting ½ of the normal contract rate because only 3 students have enrolled. Religious Studies 300, “The Nature of Religion” is not so popular. This reduces my monthly income by 25% which is not enough to get by on from now until the middle of September. I fear that I may have my Internet, water or electricity cut off for these three months. I have no family to turn to or friends who are able to help.
I have made some poor financial choices in my life. I majored in philosophy instead of engineering like my Dad wanted. I chose to leave my job in public broadcasting to go to seminary and become a minister. After that I spent 15 years at home caring for my elderly mother instead of going out to work and saving. On the whole these choices are not as bad as some that people I know have made. Thoreau is one of my heroes, but he had the advantage of not needing electricity or gasoline to live in his time. And I have given away a fair sum of money (maybe more than I could afford) to people who have asked me for help.
I have been very blessed recently by having my needs fulfilled and prayers answered to produce my daily bread, but at this time several things have fallen in on me at once. Unlike the lilies of the field, I am very anxious and depressed about the future.
The scripture says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”. I have spent my life teaching, preaching and trying to take care of others, and now I find myself forced to ask for your help. again.
I am 69 years old and my primary source of income is about $1000/month from Social Security. I have continued to work part time teaching college classes and working at direct care in a group home for autistic adults. These jobs bring in about $500/month each. I barely get by on this amount of income.
But in the summer I am only getting one class instead of two, and for the one class I will only be getting ½ of the normal contract rate because only 3 students have enrolled. Religious Studies 300, “The Nature of Religion” is not so popular. This reduces my monthly income by 25% which is not enough to get by on from now until the middle of September. I fear that I may have my Internet, water or electricity cut off for these three months. I have no family to turn to or friends who are able to help.
I have made some poor financial choices in my life. I majored in philosophy instead of engineering like my Dad wanted. I chose to leave my job in public broadcasting to go to seminary and become a minister. After that I spent 15 years at home caring for my elderly mother instead of going out to work and saving. On the whole these choices are not as bad as some that people I know have made. Thoreau is one of my heroes, but he had the advantage of not needing electricity or gasoline to live in his time. And I have given away a fair sum of money (maybe more than I could afford) to people who have asked me for help.
I have been very blessed recently by having my needs fulfilled and prayers answered to produce my daily bread, but at this time several things have fallen in on me at once. Unlike the lilies of the field, I am very anxious and depressed about the future.
The scripture says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”. I have spent my life teaching, preaching and trying to take care of others, and now I find myself forced to ask for your help. again.
Organizer
Jay Sullivan
Organizer
Barboursville, WV
