Thanks to your generous support this past August, I was able to avoid eviction, etc., for which I thank you! My fund raising goal was intended to meet my living expenses until February or March, when my attorney and I both expect my disability application to be approved. Although I fell short ( 64% ) of the amount I had hoped to raise, I thought that careful management of the funds I did raise might get me through the winter. Unfortunately, that will not happen, for two reasons...
In late September, two things happened that made my efforts to 'hang in there' until my disability was approved untenable: my landlord's son lost his job and needed a place to live, so I was give a 30-day notice to find another place to live; I was able to find another place, but the rent is $150 more per-month-- $550 vs. $400-- and I also had to pay first and last month's rent, plus deposit, and added $1250 un-budgeted rent expense, plus deposits for water and electricity and pay moving expenses. 2.) At the same time, I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type II and Stage II congestive heart failure. While I do have 'expanded Medicaid' (thank you, President Obama and Gov. Quinn!), Illinois limits its Medicaid recipients to four prescriptions per-month, and with my CHF, I now take 7 medications daily. I am required to pay for the 3 least-expensive ones out of pocket, a total of almost $200 per-month.
My bank account is currently overdrawn slightly, because my bank kindly paid the check I wrote for my medicine last week, and did so without charging me an overdraft fee ( I called and explained my situation before I wrote the check ).
In 10 days, I will need to pay rent, electric, telephone, water and trash bills, and my only income will be 'general assistance' of $125 from my township. I'm in no need of food, because my SNAP ( Link ) benefits are adequate to meet that need, but I'm flat busted broke for cash to pay my living expenses and out-of-pocket prescription payments.
Anything that you can spare will be GREATLY appreciated, DU-ers, and I thank you all for your past and future generosity!
Love,
CCD
GoFundMe:
http://www.gofundme.com/cip3vw
PayPal : rlewis58@frontier.com