Neighborhood Tags

Recently my house has flooded due to a back up in the sewage line in my neighborhood. My entire carpeting, vinyl, and a foot from all my walls. This has amounted to a bill of $2250. I am a teacher at the elementary level so this bill is more than I make in a month. Also this is not the only bill I have to fund. If interested I do have pictures, they have refused to do any of the rebuild until I am able to pay them.

 I am a 32 yr old mother of 3 who has never been in a situation of desperation such as the one I am about to present to you.  Early last year I worked at a job which paid more than enough money to take care of me and my children.  The problem was that the hours were from 3p-3a, which gave me no time to spend with my kids.  My oldest which is of school age only seen me on tue & Wed, which were my only days off, the rest of her time was spent with my sitter.  My job also had me work holidays and sad to say their birthdays as well.  Soon my daughters grades began to drop and my young children no longer wanted to spend time with me.  They cried for the babysitter and soon started calling me by my first name.  I went to my job and pleaded with them for a schedule change, they declined stating that my personal life wasnt their problem and they have 1000's of people who would love to take my place.  So I was forced to make a decision between money and my kids, I chose my kids.  I quit my job after saving enough money to pay the bills for a couple of months while I search for a job with earlier hours.  I felt this shouldn't be a problem due my previous work experience and my associates degree.  The 3 months I had given my self passed by very quickly without me finding new employment.  Because tax time was approaching and my lease was almost up I decided to use my tax money to find a much cheaper home (unfortunately in a much less appealing neighborhood) and use the rest of the money to pay for rent and utilities for another 3 months.  I have no family who can help me out and my kids father is nowhere around.  I have yet to find employment despite the many interviews and applications I have done.  A truck recently cracked the windshield on my car, my tires are bald, and the engine is going bad.  I cannot afford to fix these things and am now desperate to find a job before I lose my transportation. I would love for a great job lead or even an agency which can help me. A small donation would also help and if you send me your email address, as soon as I get on my feet I am willing to pay it back. For those who read this if u know of some job leads please forward it to me, thank you!!

im a hard working mom of a 5month old boy i have a boyfriend that works and i babysit im 20 years old my son recieves disability this is why i babysit so im home with him, somebody broke into the rent drop box and stole a bunch of peoples money mine just so happened to be one they took, i thought this was a nice neighborhood but people r in need, i will repay anybody that helps, i know millions of people say its our fault where in this predicument but its just life everyday things go up people r laid off jobs pay shitty, all im asking is for 500.00 and we will repay you! thank you for reading or just judging me, god bless those who care and those who dont! its a shame when a begging website asks you for 10 bucks! to get good donors wow i wouldnt be writing on here if i had 10 bucks! sorry for complaining im stressed! dont have a paypal, please donate by mail or send western union and email me with what u sent and that, i will keep tract and pay u back, brittany_woods2001@yahoo.com

I am a veteran of Afghanistan, and I am currently attending college. A recent vehicle repair has put me behind on bills and Im not going to have enough money for rent or gas. Just wondering if I could get a hand in the neighborhood of $600-$700. It would be greatly appreciated.

Hi there,
I'm a 22-year-old woman with a little nine month old baby boy. I'm getting my certification as a nurse's assistant so I can work in a nursing home. The elderly population is growing, and they need loving people to care for them and keep them company. Soon I will be able to do that. The only problem is the tuition is $950.

To learn how I got here, begging, read on..
A year and a half ago I got married to my love. He always treated me like an angel. We had a great life.
I got pregnant with our little baby boy and we'd never been happier.
Unfortunately,last June, before our son was born, he passed away.
I am being strong on the inside for my boy but I am still in love with my husband and I have nowhere else to turn.
I am a wonderful mom and I work very hard as a maid during the day and at night as a uncertified home health aide, but I'm not making enough money to pull us out of poverty.
Once I am certified, I can command a higher salary and move to a better neighborhood and save money for my son's future instead of living paycheck to paycheck.
Every dollar, I am closer to a brighter future.
Thank you for your time and may you be blessed.

Today, I'm not posting a beg for help. I really do not think I will get any. I'm going to post how I feel and how we're doing. Get things off my chest so I can move on with my day because I'm stressed out.

We were contacted by a new company. We are now set up to work and doing work for them. We had people loan us money and time to get things ready so we could work for them. It takes money to make money and so on.

My husband and son drive to this area for the job which is hours away. They were not given enough material for the job, so twice they had to buy material.( thank goodness for the loan) This put them way behind schedule and they could not complete the job yesterday. Now you come to the point of, do you spend $100.00 on gas and hours driving or try and find a cheap place to stay. Well we couldn't afford the place to stay nor the gas (profit margin thing),so they slept in the truck. I didn't sleep well worrying.

Today they get to the place to complete the job and the guard said to them "we really don't allow people to work here on Sunday". He lets them in anyway, they are hopeful that if they wait until noon, they won't get thrown out. Mind you this is construction work and this is a upscale neighborhood with I guess a policy against noise, construction work on Sundays.

I am thankful for the work, I wish it had gone smoother yesterday, yes, we will make a little money if they can complete this job today.

I am going to pray for the little things again today and be thankful for what we have. I have taken to talking to god a lot lately. I'm tired of talking about my problems to friends and family.

If you read this post say a prayer, I'm praying for all us. May God bless us all, Hopefully

im a 22 year old mother of two small children. i cant work right now due to transportation issues. my daughters daddy died in 2009 when my daughter was still kicking in my tummy i was devistated. its rough raising two small children alone. but god knows what hes doing. if it werent for god i would be dead. i just realy need help through this rough spot its not like me but this is my last resort. i dont know what im going to do about the late powerbill but im constantly thinking of something. im trying to find a work at home job until i can afford another job and thinking of ways to possibly raise money so me and my kids can move back to my hometown which is monroe nc because my apartment is in a bad neighborhood and my father is an hour away dying with cancer i need to find a house there by him. i need to come up with possibly 500 to 1000 for a deposit on a house there. if u have any ideas please message me or email me at jstattedangel@yahoo.com im no fake i do have pics of me and my kids. im just struggling but god has brought me through alot worse. *nicole* ps i do not have a credit card or paypal if u wish to donate would have to be mailed.

I am 32 years old I was downsized from my teaching job in 2010. I am currently working part time at a bookstore and helping around the neighborhood just to get enough money to pay for groceries and my minimal rent. I need help.

Thank you very much

My Dad is a very hardworking, loyal, honest, determined, respectful and loving guy. He has raised me and my 5 siblings the best that we could ever imagine. Maybe we didn't have a million bucks laying around or live in a huge house but he always made sure we had what we needed and gave us more then material items. He gave us education, life lessons, and courage. He has taught us everything thru example and continues to do so. 14 years ago he started a company that over the years has provided for our family and helped many other families as well. However with the downfall in the economy it has had a dramatic effect in his business and he is about to loose everything. My Dad is the kind of guy that if he can see you are in need he will be there to help in whatever way possible. For as long as I can remember after he works for 9-10 hours at his job he comes home to help the neighbors move or help the elderly with yard work, or visit the sick. (He once gave up a vaction he was suppose to take to help a family in the neighborhood who's house had just caught on fire. For the week of his "vacation" they cleaned out the house. Saved what they could. Got things the family needed etc. He spent over $5,000 on this family instead of his vacation and he enjoyed it just as much) He is a leader of well known church which on top of all the additional things going on takes every spare second of his time. Never in my 26 years of living have I heard him complain. He has donated time, money and love more then I will ever know. But now he is in need.... His business is struggling. Starting this month he has cut his pay dramatically in hopes to save his company. He would NEVER ask for help because he is always worried about everyone else but it is his turn. Please find it in your heart to help him! Every little bit helps. I know you will be blessed! Thank you!!

My Dad is a very hardworking, loyal, honest, determined, respectful and loving guy. He has raised me and my 5 siblings the best that we could ever imagine. Maybe we didn't have a million bucks laying around or live in a huge house but he always made sure we had what we needed and gave us more then material items. He gave us education, life lessons, and courage. He has taught us everything thru example and continues to do so. 14 years ago he started a company that over the years has provided for our family and helped many other families as well. However with the downfall in the economy it has had a dramatic effect in his business and he is about to loose everything. My Dad is the kind of guy that if he can see you are in need he will be there to help in whatever way possible. For as long as I can remember after he works for 9-10 hours at his job he comes home to help the neighbors move or help the elderly with yard work, or visit the sick. (He once gave up a vacation he was suppose to take to help a family in the neighborhood who's house had just caught on fire. For the week of his "vacation" they cleaned out the house. Saved what they could. Got things the family needed etc. He spent over $5,000 on this family instead of his vacation and he enjoyed it just as much) He is a leader of well known church which on top of all the additional things going on takes every spare second of his time. Never in my 26 years of living have I heard him complain. He has donated time, money and love more then I will ever know. But now he is in need.... His business is struggling. Starting this month he has cut his pay dramatically in hopes to save his company. He would NEVER ask for help because he is always worried about everyone else but it is his turn. Please find it in your heart to help him! Every little bit helps. I know you will be blessed! Thank you!!

hello, a quick background on myself, i am currently 22, taking care of my family as much as i can, i live with my mom, her boyfriend, my grandparents, and 3 little brothers all of which i love dearly, and do whatever i can to help them. recently i've fired from my job and have had no luck finding work again. and i saw so many people around my neighborhood in the same position, i saw so many teenagers running around and getting into trouble with the law and people begging for food. and that's where i got the idea for my business. i know just how to remedy this. i want to build a place that provides somewhere for everyone to go, a place that employs people who seek employment, a place that all these troubled youths can go and put their good talents to use. and get paid for it! maybe they can find themselves here at my business. it would be a wonderful place for the community and hopefully something inspiring to the world. something could expand and spread. it's very exciting to me and i hope you all agree, and see fit to donate to this cause. every single penny counts. and you're all greatly appreciated just for taking the time to read this. if this sounds like something you'd be interested in partnering up with me on, please. do not hesitate to leave a comment with contact info for us to speak further.

hello, i stumbled across this website while searching google for some financial help, someone suggested making a post here so, here i am. i don't usually ask for donations of any kind as i know everyone has their own things to worry about in life, but i've been taking care of my family for sometime now, ever since i graduated high school in 2008, i buy food, pay some of the rent, pay a few bills. (including electric and gas)plus i do what i can to make sure my little brothers have what they need for school, and at home. due to my busy schedule i'm not allotted time to go to college or anything like i'd want to, but i've been fine with that as long as i can help out and well, i was recently fired and looking for work now (no luck) now my little brother has heart complications and needs alot of surgery that his insurance won't cover all of.. i'm really stressed out, pinned against a wall here and i need every single bit of help i can get to help my family, and my neighborhood. i am also trying to build my own business that will help the other jobless folk around here. god bless you all and thank you for so much as taking the time to read this

Please help us save our neighbor's home. She is 78 and has no next of kin. She lives alone and has fallen on hard times due to the economy. She is so kind, always looking out for everyone in the neighborhood, but she is ashamed to ask for the help she needs to pay her mortgage.

My roommate and I want to do something kind for her, so we beg you to donate money to help save her home. Like everyone else, we only have so much we can give on our own. But, with the donations from the community we can positively impact our neighbor's life with a meaningful gift and alleviate this great stress.

Please help us give a kind lady peace of mind and donate what you can. No amount is too small. We appreciate your generosity and support!

Please help us save our neighbor's home. She is 78 and has no next of kin. She lives alone and has fallen on hard times due to the economy. She is so kind, always looking out for everyone in the neighborhood, but she is ashamed to ask for the help she needs to pay her mortgage.

My roommate and I want to do something kind for her, so we beg you to donate money to help save her home. Like everyone else, we only have so much we can give on our own. But, with the donations from the community we can positively impact our neighbor's life with a meaningful gift and alleviate this great stress.

Please help us give a kind lady peace of mind and donate what you can. No amount is too small. We appreciate your generosity and support!

I am a fighter. My story is a long one with many trials and tribulations; perhaps not much different or worse than others, I am not sure. My name is Elizabeth Newton and I live in Loveland, Colorado; the Sweetheart City and Gateway to the Rockies. I was raised by both parents in a middle class environment. I am the oldest of four, in which, three are brothers. I was a creative child who staged puppet shows and created clubs in our neighborhood. I am not sure if you remember the fuzzy sticky feet, but I made my own with left over pieces of carpet and sold them to my friends.
Moving on, I really struggled in school and got into a lot trouble. I was reckless, promiscuous, used drugs and alcohol and was dangerous. To keep it short, I dropped out in my junior year. When I reflect on those years, I remember some of what I did but mostly I forgot. I guess I felt as though I was being pulled by the strings of a puppet master whose name I now know is Bipolar.
When I turned 18 I shared an apartment with a friend. We both worked for the same nursing home and later for the Bureau of Reclamation. In was at the former job, I received my GED. I was still behaving recklessly resulting in a lot of missed work. But I was having fun being independent, partying all night but slowly losing control of my life.
I became pregnant by my boyfriend and we married several months later. My daughter is a grown woman. I then had another child four years later. Money was also a struggle. My husband wanted me to work but it did not make sense financially. I paid more for daycare then I was paid. When I found a position over the weekends, my husband refused to watch the children. That being said, I was still reckless – the mood would not go away – still a slave of the puppet master. Eventually the relationship became abusive and my husband left leaving $200 on the kitchen table. I did not have a car so I borrowed my father’s truck. I drove my father’s truck with my two small children in back to a safe house. However, it was not so safe. My husband who insulated homes, worked on the safe house. He found the truck and wrote things, I cannot mention here, on the outside of the truck. He coerced my grandmother to call me; and she did! Having to deal with these distractions kept me from focusing on me.
Good news! I was able to move into low income housing. It was a struggle to get my possessions; I took what I could. My father out of the blue wanted his truck back. My mother headed him off at the pass. I think I remember that my life settled down a bit. I enrolled in college. I loved college. In spite of this, I quit school to work from my mother at her computer store. Did I mention my parents were divorced? I am not sure it matters at this point. About six months later, the puppet master caught me and off I was again.
I had a boyfriend – I was 32 years old – and pregnant again…..This relationship was worse that the first. It included drinking, drugs, sexual and physical abuse – oh my, sigh. In the course of it all, I secured a position for one of the largest companies in Loveland. I was thrilled. I had actually come a long way. I divorced my second husband and found my own apartment.
Wow – raising three children on my own was not easy. We got by – I was able to provide what we needed. I forgot to mention I shared custody of my third child and had to pay child support. I never complained; I met my responsibility. I was performing very well at work and procured a position of a trainer. WeeHee – my new position allowed me to travel the globe. Can you imagine, me, the girl from Loveland, Colorado? During this time, I encountered a lot of problems with my ex-husband. Once, he called me at work and said he had a brain tumor. It was a joke; I did not find it funny.
I was promoted again returned to school and bought a house!!! I cannot think of the words to describe these accomplishments. I transformed from the woman driving my father’s truck to a home owner; kind of like the Home Sweet Home book. I was still partying, drinking, but not like before. The puppet master must have been on holiday. I met the man of my dreams and we married in 1998 (I think). We are still together.
The puppet master had those strings a rolling. I could and did accomplish anything. I could see what others could not. I finished school with ease and received my BA in Organization Development in 2005. What year did my story start? We bought a new home in a nice neighborhood. It is a modest home but fits us very well. I was still partying but it was not disrupting my work and home responsibilities.
CRASH! He let go – how could he let go? A woman pulled in front of us and totaled our car. I realize this does not sound traumatic, does it? I really do not know anymore. What I do know is this rocked my world. More than any other event did – and there were many. I could not recover. My performance fell down the well. I could not sleep. I drank a lot. I would even get up at night to drink because I could not sleep. The unthinkable happened. My strings let me down. I swallowed a bottle of pills. I was so afraid. I spent three days in the psychiatric hospital and two months in intensive outpatient therapy. During this time I was on short term disability. I am a fighter; I have never let my circumstances stop me. I returned to work for about two months. Nevertheless, the strings dropped again, were they ever pulled, I am not sure; I spent eight days in hospital. I was out of work again. This time when I returned to work there was no position waiting for me. I was laid off the summer of 2009. I lost it all in one short year.
Remember I am a fighter. I returned to school in July 2009 to obtain a masters degree and I graduated in early 2011. The problem? I obtained a degree and I could not use without further education. I still do not say this out loud. During this time, I landed a part time job as an instructor for students seeking their AAS Human Resources degree. I make a third of the salary I previously did. I have performed this job since April 2010. It is hard. I forget – my memory is not that good. What you have reading are the highlights of my life.
Adult children and BABIES!! Not one baby; two and a one year old. My daughter was in a bad situation in Arizona. She was pregnant with twins, had a one year old daughter, had no car and was being evicted. The dad? Let’s say there is a lot to be desired. She packed as much as she could and moved in with us. Would anyone turn a loved one away in this situation? I could not. I was still drinking. As I write this, I now realize drinking was the one constant in my life. Sad. Her pregnancy had it challenges, but I think this is common. The first snowstorm of the year, December 30th, if you can believe that for Colorado, the babies had enough; my daughter was in labor. We called 911 since the roads were bad. Several hours later we welcomed two healthy baby girls! They will be one year old soon.
New Chapter. How many do we get? My daughter and 18 year old son live with us in our modest home. We clash, how we could not. I have been telling my doctor that I am depressed, damn strings. I can’t sleep and my body hurts so badly; especially when I lay down. Oh, I forgot to mention, no drinking! I quit over a year ago. Regrettably the depression and pain are driving my every moment. I think the puppet master is on vacation. There is no hope. I have been out of work too long. We are waiting for the repo man to get our car. We are barely holding on to the house. How can everything crash so fast and so hard? I am a fighter remember. My mind is full of hopelessness. I have a note that says “Please just let me go”. I am a fighter remember. I call the crisis line. They tell me to call 911. I don’t. I go to bed. Maybe it will be better tomorrow. Not a chance. The same message is repeating over and over in my head; “please let me go”. I tell my family I am driving to the hospital. I do not want anyone to come with me. I go alone.
Hospital

Im a single mother who just got layed off from my job the week after Thanksgiving. I signed lease and gave deposit for a new place for my girls and i so we wouldnt be around the drug neighborhood anymore. the week after i did that and started moving in our new home i unfortunately got layed off. I applied for unemployment that is still pending,used what little check i had for food and personal products for new place. new landlord will not wait for anything. its cold out,the holiday season is here and as of right now if i can not get this help for rent that i so desperately need im going to lose everything including my new home and everything i own in it but most importantly my two girls who i have supported for the last 6 yrs alone. the children services board told me i had until dec. 16th( my oldest girls b-day) to get things taken care of with this problem or they were going to take my girls from me that afternoon. plz my prayers are that someone out here will have a very huge heart and be in xmas spirit and me and my two girls have a warm place to lay our heads and be together for xmas. we are all each other has . god bless everyone but especially to the ones who can and will help my girls and i have a good xmas together. Thank You! And Merry Christmas!

Hello everyone,
I am not sure how I feel about begging people for money, but I am out of options. I am single mother of three (25, 18,16) and grandmother of 2 and I have recently taken in a neighborhood girl 17 yo whos father tossed her out on the street. She is a great kid, and certainly not worth tossing aside. She is in her senior year of school and looking towards college. I want to be able to continue to help her as well as my other children, but this year has been challenging and a never ending battle. I am presently the only one working thanks to our wonderful economy, and I have to drive 1 1/2 hours to work everyday just to stay employed. My 25 year old lost her job when her youngest child passed away of SIDS last december and she just couldnt function. She is getting counseling and doing much better, and has started looking for work, but not having much luck. My 18 year old is in college, which she works to pay for herself. My son is only 16 and really shouldnt have to worry about financial matters. I work, and I work hard to support my family the best I can, I have tried to locate even a second job, but with the commute to job 1 that is almost impossible. My boyfriend has tried to help me, but he got laid off and is presently losing his own house to foreclosure. I am a hardworking woman who just needs a little help. I am behind in car payments, utilities, and we are in desperate need of oil. I have tried to apply for assistance, but the government says I am not eligible because in their minds I only have one dependent, therefore I make to much money. Any little bit helps, so please and thank you if you can.

I'm a graduate student, but I don't get nearly enough in financial aid to pay the bills. Unfortunately, this year is the worst yet. As of right now, I am 2 months behind on my rent and dangerously close to becoming evicted. I would like to note that I did not rent a big place to begin with - a small, one-room studio with the lowest-priced rent I could find in my neighborhood. I am also at least two months behind on most of my other bills (credit card bills accrued from supplementing what little I get from financial aid as well as bills for Internet). I have been looking for a job for the past several months to help pay the rent with little luck or success. Though I found a part-time job within the last month, it unfortunately pays minimum wage, and I truly feel like the income from that job is too little, too late. I just cannot catch up with all the debts I have accrued. The financial worries are stressing me out and having a negative effect on my schoolwork. The last thing I need is school troubles on top of my financial worries. Please have a heart and help me out. It would be greatly appreciated.

When I was younger, I was lucky enough to be around when my parents were together, had money, and doing okay-ish (granted we were still living in a horrid environment, but I still have my Barbie Talkin Town House!). My brother, who has many mental/speech issues, has not experienced Christmas but 1 in his 9 years. Dad went to nursing home w/ multiple sclerosis, mom had to run business in dangerous neighborhood, meanwhile our apartment nearby got taken because the contract expired...basically, for the next few years we financially got worse and worse. Even now, our 'stable home' is to be foreclosed.
Anyway, all I ask for is Christmas presents for him. He's a boy, so obviously guy stuff. He loves the lion king, remote control things, anything with animals. Please, please make this little boy's Christmas.

I am a single mother of two talented and gifted children and a student of
the ADN (Associate Degree Nursing) Program at my local community college. On
Febuary 16th, 2011, my childrens father wipped out our entire savings and
checking account and the contents of our home, then disappeared. There was
absolutely no warning of this. My children and I simply returned home from
school to an almost completely empty house.

My immediate thought was that we were victoms of a burglary. However,
shortly after the police arrived, neighbors reported something even more
disturbing. My childrens father , along with three other men in a huge
company moving truck, spent most of the early morning and mid-afternoon
moving things out of our home. Neighbors said they thought we were just
moving. They suspected no problems. Even though he had taken every household
appliance, all electronics and my childrens cellos, keyboards and computers,
there was nothing the police could do. He was indeed a resident and on the
lease.

I tried contacting him on his cell only to find it disconnected. When I
called his office, I was informed that he had been seperated from the firm
for over a month.

This was awfull and my children and I were in need of answers. To cheer us all up, I decided that we should go out to dinner and
fun. That's when I found out about the accounts.

Although there was no furniture, well, only the childrens bedroom furnitue,
we remained in our home for as long as we could. I started working part time
at a call center at night while continuing my classes in the day.

We soon had to move of course. We were evicted for non payment of rent. I
found a one bedroom appartment that I could afford. This meant moving the
children into another school district.

At the time my daughter was in seventh grade, taking highschool algebra 1,
and highschool english1. Her other classes were all AP 8th grade courses.
She was also in orchestra with her cello. The new district does not allow
7th graders to take highschool class, so she was not able to continue on her
path. Not only did we have to face the challenge of academics, we also had a
severe problem with bullies. Because I had to be at school myself, the
children had to ride the school bus daily. In a horrible neighborhood, they
were beaten often and picked on daily because of how they talked and
dresssed. Telling the school principles and the police only made matters
worse for us and our apartment. The parents live in our aparments and they
are not happy with me calling the authorities on them. I have had widows
borken out in my car, tires cut and the front door of my appartment painted
with ugly words.

I sat out of school this semester in order to escort my children safely to
and from school each day.For now, I work at a call center
m-th 8am-3pm and sat 7am-4pm.

I am trying to move my children to a neighborhood they can be safe in and a
school that is able to meet them at their academic level and they can also
be safe in. If this could happen then I could return to my nursing studies
and the children could return to a safe environment and school.

I pay 400 per month for our one bedroom we are in now. I found some
apartments in a a safer neighborhood with schools that offer orchestra and
college prep courses. ( I have not been able to pay for any private lessons
scince their father left. And their new schools do not offer orchestra. )
The one bedrooms in this particular area are 750/monthly .

I am begging for help to raise enough money to move my children into a
better neighborhood before January so that I may continue in my studies and
they can safely do the same.
I have a 7 year old boy and 13 year old daughter.
I have completed all of my support courses for my nursing. I completed my
first year last year and this summer. So, there is only one more year
nursing school that I have before I graduate. I am pleading with anyone and
everyone to please help me. Any amount will help me reach my goal.
I am asking for help to maintain a 750 per month one bedroom apartment for
12 months. January2012 to January 2013.

Any amount that you can donate will be very helpful.
Thank you for taking the time out to read about my children and I.
Thank you

Updates: September 11, 2011 - I have been able to get a part-time job which is good news, but the rest is just about the same. Thank you for your help Malum Designs
and Pete B.
Since my previous posts have yielded only four donations over the last five months I thought I would try this approach. My financial problems are quite real. If you find my fable entertaining please send a small donation.
- Fortuna vitrea est, tum cum splendet frangitur -

The Grasshopper and the Ant
A Classic retold by Joseph the Beggar King
Part One

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, there were two friends, the Grasshopper and the Ant. Why these two became friends is a bit of a mystery. The Grasshopper was a dreamer and a drifter. The Ant was a believer and an achiever.

In school the Grasshopper would look out the window without thought and only learned the subjects he found interesting. Sometimes he would fall asleep in Math class, other times when a angry teacher would jump him with a pop question he would give the correct answer in way that would confound them.

The Ant was a teachers dream, he soaked up every subject the system taught him, gave the correct answers in the correct way and got straight A s. He would delight his Math teacher by doing compound interest in his head. The Ant believed that what they taught him would help him succeed and was very completive. After graduating High School the Ant got an Academic Scholarship and the Grasshopper got a Pell Grant.

Within four years the Ant got two BS degrees in Business Management and Engineering. The Grasshopper dropped out after the first year. He went to live with the Rainbow Tribe for a few years. On the way to the bus station he found an old fiddle in a trash pile along the road and when he got station he was able to panhandle his bus fare. That was the Grasshoppers first beg.

The Ant took the College like a fish to water. During open Rush some Greeks invite him to be a brother in their Fraternity. He earned his dues by being the Frat Houses Accountant and made beer money by writing term papers. One day while visiting the Tri Deltas he watches the girls play volleyball and is amazed that even though they are playing a vigorous game not one of them breaks a sweat. It is there he meets the girl of his dreams, Polly Fishbane.

While the Grasshopper was living with the Rainbow Tribe he never meets the girl of his dreams, but it does not really matter too much because they believe in Free Love. So free, in fact, that after what you might call the Honeymoon he found himself getting a little bored with it. From the Rainbow Tribe he learns to live off the fat of country and from his new friend, Buffalo with Runs, he learns to live off the land. Buffalo with Runs was an very old Indian that was adopted by the tribe. He taught the Grasshopper what wild plants were safe to eat or use for medicines. He showed him how to set traps and hunt small game. Then, during one winter Gathering four people froze to dead because they were too stoned to come in out of the cold. The Grasshopper became very sad and hopped away.

The Ant is recruited by a Aerospace firm even before he graduated college and goes to work on the Apollo Program. He and his new wife Polly loved the Florida sunshine and settle down to start the American Dream. They decide to have two and half children. Even though the third kid looked a bit odd the Ant loved him as only a father can. With easy money down and mortgage tax deductions compliments of Uncle Sam, they get a house with a two car garage. Next they get two cars and the Rat Race is on. The Ant loves it! Working on the Apollo Program is more than a job, it is being part of history. Polly loves it! Raising their kids and Keeping up of with the Jones. She starts selling Avon products on the side. The Ant buys the best bass boat in the neighborhood, but only uses it once a year because he too busy working. He sets up his retirement funds and a small stock portfolio. Life is Good!

After leaving the Rainbow Tribe the Grasshopper panhandles his way across the country. He sets up in parks and subways where he pretends to play his fiddle while selling jewelry made of deer anthers and beads. The noise he makes with his fiddle sounds like a cat being killed and people give him money just to make him stop. Before the Cops run him off, the Grasshopper usually made enough in one day of begging to cover his needs for the week. When he is hungry he goes to a Soup Kitchen and when he needs clothing there are the Sharing Centers. Every now and then he lets some good hearted woman try to save him. Life is Good and he hops away.

The Apollo Program ends and the new Shuttle program does not start for a couple of years. The Aerospace company were the Ant works at does not win any of the new bids. They offer him a job in California at 20% less of his salary. Polly and the kids are in a rage. Nobody wants to move and leave their friends. The Ant sells his house at a loss because the real estate market in flooded by the laid offs. The one car and the boat are reprocessed. He sells off his stock portfolio for the down payment on the new house in California and even though money is tight the Ant decides to take the family on a short vacation to Key West to uplift their spirits. He finds the Grasshopper selling deer antler jewelry at the Front Street Market. While Polly and the kids go shopping, he and Grasshopper catch up and have a couple of beers. The Ant tells his friend about the laid offs and the move. The Grasshopper asks him - Are you Happy - ? The Ant says - Yes -. His friend says, - Good - . They watch the sunset and see a green flash on the horizon.
To be continue.

please!please! someone help me. I am a single mom of 3 girls,we live in a very bad neighborhood, I fear for their safety as hoodlums have attempted to assult them.I work 2 jobs and still cant afford to move us out of this area. Our apt. is also roach infested and in winter mice take over.I am begging out of desperation I dont qualify for public housing assistance,I just dont know where to turn so I ask in earnest please help us if you can. GOD BLESS YOU!

I'm another victim of the housing bust. I purchased my house in 2006 for 600K. Its now valued at around 250K and I'm soon facing an adjusting mortgage rate.

What is worse, the house quickly started revealing a ton of hidden problems soon after the purchase was complete. (yes we did an inspection). On top of that, the guy who sold me this house, immediately squeezed in another house on what was the empty lot next to mine. The new house is less than 3 feet away from mine and I can literally reach out the window and touch it if I lean. This guy really took advantage of me and then used my money to build another house! This also cut off all my views and light.

I was naive and listened to a lot of bad advice when making this purchase, but at the time that price for the house I got in California was a great deal. A steal! And then the housing bust. Now I'm left deeply underwater and with a house that needs a lot of repairs.

I can't qualify for a loan modification because I'm current on my payments. I can't refinance because of the loan to value ratio being so bad. I don't want to walk away from my home and cause another foreclosure to damage the values of even more homes in my neighborhood. Its a tough situation, and all I want to do is gain enough extra money to pay down some of my principal so that I start digging myself out of this horrible hole.

I realize that a lot of people have a lot of deeper problems, but I figure it can't hurt to ask. Once I am back on my financial feet I WILL pay it forward and find others to help. I actually already try to help people learn how to make money online and I also give to disaster relief whenever I can.

Please contribute to my cause. I'm just another American citizen trying to do the right thing for myself and my community. I have cut back on life's ammenities, I don't go on vacation, I work as much and as hard as I can to make extra money, but I just need a little more help.
Thank you!

I am a 49 year old struggling grandmother of 3 sweet, beautiful boys, ages 5, 7 and 8. I am desperately trying to save and protect my grandsons and ensure their futures. I would not ask help if it were only for me. I am asking for help for them, so that my 3 innocent little grandsons will be safe, secure and have a chance in life. As things stand right now, we will be homeless within the next 2 weeks.
My greatest fear is that when (not if) I do become homeless, which isn’t that far off, the state will take my grandsons because we have no place to live, split them up and put them in foster homes. That thought scares the hell out of me. I am all those sweet little boys have. And if they lose each other too, after losing everyone and everything else that they known and loved, I fear their lives will be ruined at the tender ages of 5, 7 and 8.
I suffer from COPD and fibromyalgia and each day I struggle with physical pain. We live near the New Orleans Metro Area in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. We were displaced for a year after Hurricane Katrina, came back, bought a mobile home in Lafitte, Louisiana and tried to rebuild our lives. In 2008, when Hurricanes Gustav and Ike hit us back to back, our home was flooded with more than 4 feet of water; unreachable, except by boat for over 2 weeks.
At that time, my mother, age 75, had been experiencing the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s as well as a series of strokes which affected the memory and impulse control centers of her brain due to a vascular disease which severely decreased the flow of blood to those areas of her brain. During these TIA’s and small strokes/seizures, she behaved erratically and during larger ones she could become paranoid and psychotic. She had to be hospitalized for several of the more severe episodes, as she was becoming a danger to herself and others. The effects of these “episodes” lingered for days, sometimes weeks. Afterwards, she had no memory of anything that happened during that time period.
After the storms, we moved in with my mother to help her and because we did, FEMA stopped helping us. And since we could not afford to rebuild again without FEMA’s help, we lost our home. The recent BP oil spill was just another deep blow to our already struggling local economy.
She required 24/7/365 assistance and supervision, which she could not afford. She was eventually diagnosed with vascular disease of the brain and Alzheimer’s. Due to the region of her brain that was affected her disease went unnoticed for several years, until she had a large enough stroke to prompt her to seek medical attention. This diagnosis explained her erratic behavior of the past several years, I have since been homebound, unable to leave mom untended for any length of time and unable to work outside the home due to my mother’s need for the past 3 years.
My mother passed away this past April at the age of 79. She had suffered from Alzheimer's and vascular dementia, suffering several major and minor strokes and seizures over the past 6+ years. On April 9th she suffered a massive stroke, lingering for 9 days before passing on the 18th. God rest her soul, I miss her. I loved my mom very much and did everything I could to help her.
To add to the difficulties already faced by our loss, my youngest daughter, who had been living in Ohio with what turned out to be a conman/ junkie twice her age that saw a vulnerable young woman with 3 children and took advantage of that fact, had been physically, verbally and emotionally abusive to all of them for the past 1 ½ years. 2 weeks before Mom passed, she got in major legal trouble in Ohio and sent my 3 young grandsons to me to raise.
Now, things have turned for the worst... On August 17th we discovered that my eldest daughter took my mother to an attorney and had her write a will leaving everything my mother had to her and excluding me! This abominable act was done 1 month after Hurricane Katrina when ALL of us were distraught and displaced from the storm! My mom was not in her right mind at that time, even though a full diagnosis had not yet been made on her true condition.... Also, in Louisiana, the bar for mental competency is set so low that so long as you are not actively drooling and babbling in front of the judge/attorney/witnesses you are considered competent!! It doesn’t matter if you won’t remember doing it five minutes later either.
Now, my greedy, self-serving, ungrateful eldest child has decided that she will evict us so she can try to sell my mother's home, in which I and my grandsons, her nephews still live, so she can pay off mom's debt, which she exaggerates, and her student loans. She is fully aware of our circumstances… she just doesn’t care. The only transportation I have for my grandsons is the truck my mom gave me before her death, but did not have the money to transfer title on. It is now part of mom’s estate and she wants that too.
I called the Clerk in division where probate/ succession on my mom were filed... Clerk said that I need an attorney to file contest to the will… herein lies the problem... there is not 1 single legal aid agency in the ENTIRE New Orleans Metro area that can handle a contested will!! There are also no private attorneys that will handle it either, unless there's big money in it for them, which in this case there is not.
Clerk also said she has no idea why I was never notified… Judge signed off regardless. There seems to be no justice for the poor in this country... since we can't afford to pay the exorbitant fees of a private attorney, which seems to be a necessity to get anything done in the courts.
I received a 10 day "Notice to Vacate" posted on the door August 24, 2011. My daughter wants immediate possession of the property she manipulated/unduly influenced my mentally ill mother into willing to her barely 1 month after Hurricane Katrina. I don't know where we will go. I will have enough money on September 3rd to pay either 1 month's rent or the deposit, but can't raise both in time I have left. I also have the added expenses of my regular utility bills and new expenses for the transfer of utility services and/or deposits, and transportation. So I need to raise about $2000.00 within the coming 2 week period.
I have tried appealing to my daughter’s sense of decency, but she doesn’t seem to have one. Her actions are despicable and deplorable. I am ashamed to be her mother. It breaks my heart and sickens me to know that I brought such a hateful, selfish, greedy, heartless person into this world. I did not raise her to be that way.
I've called every single legal aid agency in my area; including the Bar Assoc. Lawyer referral service... no one will help because there just isn't any money in it for them... sad state this country is in when the poor cannot get justice anywhere.
I've also called churches and other charitable organizations for help... there are so many families in need in the New Orleans metro area that any help is minimal. ALL homeless shelters are full up with waiting lists so long they are no longer taking applications for assistance.
I have applied for Section 8 housing, but there is a HUGE waiting list. The HUD Section 8 waiting list in Louisiana is backlogged 5+ years and has more than 20,000 applicants still waiting for vouchers, many of whom are currently homeless. They are not accepting any new applicants.
I have contacted EVERY charitable and public/community service agency that I can think of for help... none has been forthcoming as of yet..... Is there ANYONE out there with a heart who can and will help us? I have nowhere else to turn.
I’ve spent days seeking legal help... bottom line... none available... so since if my defense is denied and I can't fight the eviction then we are out on the streets with nowhere to go.
My nerves are shot; the house hunt is not going well.
I am hurt by my daughter’s actions and so sickened over all of this mess that I can barely think straight. I cry myself to sleep every night and awake with tears in my eyes and a rock in the pit of my stomach. Yet I dry them and try to be strong and act as if everything is normal for my grandsons who need me now more than ever. I still haven’t had time to grieve my mother’s death.
We are now faced with trying to find alternate housing that we can afford on the $840.00 a month income that I receive in Kinship Care for my grandsons. Fat chance in this over-priced rental market. Even a 1 bedroom apartment in “Crack Alley” goes for more than my income in this post-Katrina/Gustav/Ike market.
And it's starting to look like me and my grandsons will be homeless very soon... by the end of the 1st week in September.
Their mother is in prison and their deadbeat, psycho father hasn't been seen in almost 2 years, ever since he beat the hell out of his girlfriend, killed their little dog in front of my boys, stole and trashed her car and ended up in a mental hospital wanting to kill himself... my babies have had enough grief and loss in their lives... they need love, help and compassion.... and a decent place to live... soon!
We’re trying to stay in this area because my boyfriend of 11 years, and my only help, has an elderly, widowed mother who needs his help too. And we are all she has. She cannot take us in because her trailer is very small and there is no room for 5 more people in it.
Work is also scarce and hard to find in the New Orleans metro area due to the huge influx of big out of state companies with their out of state workers getting all of the bigger jobs and contracts and the even larger influx of foreign laborers so severely underbidding the smaller construction jobs, cutting local workers and sub-contractors, like my boyfriend, right out of the job market. Every day he goes out hunting for work taking any job offered.
I have prayed on this so hard and so often since this mess all began. I have put my burden in Jesus' Hands. For He is the only one that can save us. I can only hope that he sends us an Angel to deliver us soon, for without help from someone, somewhere here on earth we are lost. I feel so lost and utterly alone... this truly is my darkest hour.
If there is ANYONE out there who can offer assistance, legal, residential, financial, whatever help you can give... please contact me ASAP. I have exhausted all available resources.
I need at least 2 bedrooms in a safe neighborhood... my total income is $840.00 per month... Right now, I can barely afford toilet paper to wipe our butts with.
We are thankful and grateful for the help we have received from our local churches and the 2nd Harvest Food Bank, as well as some assistance on our utility bill from our local community action organization. That meager help has helped us survive thus far, but our resources are nearly spent. Please have mercy on us and donate whatever you can to help me save my family… every little bit helps.
Thank you for listening to my problems and for your consideration of my plight.
May God Bless you tenfold for any help you send us.
Proverbs 3: 3-7
Let not mercy and truth forsakes you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart,
And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

I am by default a substitute teacher, but am trying to use my new licenses to teach HS English. No interviews yet. It's been my third worst summer ever, as I'm stuck out here in my trailer/neighborhood 30 m. from buses, no gas money to swim,visit people, network, or look for jobs in person. Sure can't afford to move from my paid-for mobile and start paying rent, and couldn't sell the place when I tried. I would love some kind person to send me a few hundred dollars (or what-have-you) to get around.I could do a dragon drawing or pet portrait in colored pencil for you.I'm not sure how paypal works, and I'm on sketchy dial-up, so you would need to send it to Box 1501 Tijeras, NM 87059. Thanks.