Concern: Paying the bills

#AnneYEC2020 (Story #110)

Not being able to work full time at work but I stay positive and willing to do anything for my health

The Kids

This has been crazy being stuck at home. I think my kids have had it hardest bc they can’t see their friends or really participate in any activities. The food distributions and community feedings have been awesome. It saves some money from the limited funds that are no longer coming in.

Starting My Business

2020 has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and start my business so that I have multiple streams of income

Hope still lives

During the pandemic I had to stop working but my husband continued to work. Since we were living on one paycheck we couldn’t pay our bills or even take care of basic necessities like food and gas. But youth empowered to prosper started a food pantry that helped us soo much that we didnt need to buy food. We could focus our funds on paying Bill’s and etc. I then started to volunteer because of how they have helped my family. and assist others with getting food. though I filed for both unemployment and food stamps but because of my marital name was changed in my ID I was unqualified for unemployment and food stamps claimed we didnt qualify. I started looking for work but it was difficult because I needed a work from home job but I didnt have any experience. A couple months later I started working but because we were so backed up on our bills we had to play catch up but now were catching up and are able to pay our Bill’s on time.

Trust

My name is Barbara my 3 children and I have Asthma. My self and 10 year old have chronic asthma. This started for us March 23,2020. Our lives will be changed forever. My job closed its door for a few weeks. I said what would I do now. On top of that We have breathing issues that we go through already sometimes on a daily basis. Due to covid which affects people with asthma. We now have been subject to wear masks and isolate ourselves from our family as well as friends. I started getting panic attacks which have never happened before. I felt scared to leave my home. Fear was taking over. My girls 15 year old and 10 year old started getting panic attacks. In the middle of the night my 15 year old Priscilla would just start crying could not take being closed in our home she could not sleep. We had not seen the streets in weeks except for looking outside the windows. On top of what was already going on a cousin of mine died due to covid she was 44 years old. Mother of 3 children she worked for transit. Hearing people around me getting sick some of my church family getting covid. It hit to close to home. I woke up one night and said enough is enough fear will not control me or my home. I Started praying and asking God to remove any fear I have allowed in my mind out. Out in the name of Jesus. Fear cannot and will not have control over me or my children. For we belong to an Almighty POWERFUL GOD.I had to pray it out. Praise and worship more than ever. Reminding my children that God is in control of it all. Of our lives. He is our provider. The air we breathe. I had to take a stand in my home. I was not alone God was right there. Phil 4 :13 I can do ALL things with CHRIST who strengthen me. I will not be afraid. Peace trust and believe. My children first day out was when I heard a food pantry needed volunteers .I said to myself this is God opening the door for you to be of help and step out in faith knowing God will cover me and my home. We prayed and trusted God and went. So many families in need. People who have lost their jobs. Its real. My 17 year old Jeremias said mom this church is full of love. Pastor Cobb and Lady lisa are amazing I said to him. I cried with them in the car. This was just a way of God reminded me he got it all.

Blessing

What I witness is people who are truly in need and just being able to help out and give to others is just a blessing. You start realizing that your problem are nothing.

Palm Health story

The request for assistance comes from the lack of funds available to cover the rent due to an injury I suffered and put me out of work for over 3 weeks. I injured my shoulder which left me unable to work and left a big gap in our income. My wife also being pregnant and due to the current pandemic being unable to work, puts us in a tight squeeze in order to make the payment possible. We would kindly appreciate any assistance which can be provided in order to make the payments due. Thank you so much for your time and efforts. We appreciate any help available, thanks.

My Story (Story #945)

This is the story about how my family and I have been affected by covid-19. On July 15, 2020 my wife Carmen Rodriguez, and I Roberto Martinez became sick. We were having high fever, muscular pain, loss of appetite and sense of smell. My wife was getting worst, I had to take her to the emergency room. On July 21, 2020. The doctors diagnosed pneumonia in her left lung and lack of oxygen. The doctors started a treatment on her. Since we do not have any type of health insurance we are drowning in debt. I have been using my savings to cover some of those medical bills. Since I stopped working due to the virus. I haven’t been able to work for 8 weeks, waiting for my wife to get better. I’ve been taking care of my kids. (14, 7 years old). This situation has been very painful, the recovery very slow, but we are positive that things are going to get better and we will be able to go back to work. For now, we need help paying some of our bills. While we can overcome this hardship. Thank you!

The Helper Needs Help

For me COVID-19 has been one of those life events that creeps in slowly, unaware of the toll it will take until the damage has been done. I am one of those people that looks out for others and takes care of everyone else before I take care of myself. This global pandemic has taught me that behaviors like that take the largest toll because you don’t see the consequences until they’re upon you. In March, at the beginning of quarantine my first priority were my mom & my son. My son was quarantined at home with me and my mother lives across the street. She’s 77 years old, a 2 time cancer survivor that’s on chemo meds that have her immune system compromised. She still works as a hairdresser but my brother and I made the decision to isolate her for her safety. We also decided to take over her household expenses so that she wouldn’t be worried about rushing back to her salon which was ordered closed anyway. Shortly after that, in early April, I took in a former student that was home from college for quarantine and has a strained relationship with her mother. It didn’t take long before I saw a significant increase in my household expenses; utilities & groceries increased greatly. Then, from the additional wear & tear, household items began to give out. First my mother’s air conditioner, then my own. Next a water pipe exploded in my mother’s bathroom causing a flood and her refrigerator conked out too. My brother was soon unable to contribute anymore as his car and his wife’s care needed major repairs. I still didn’t worry as I was on top of all those additional expenses at first but then they just continued to mount month after month. I asked for a reprieve from my mortgage company but by the time the was period was finished, the expenses had piled up and my savings had been depleted. So fast forward to now, I’m currently behind on my mortgage for the month of August ($1280) and it’s time to pay September’s mortgage too. I have a past due FPL bill in the amount of $743.37 as I have only been paying the past due amount to keep afloat. I realize that there are so many others that are struggling out there but I too have found myself in the position of hardship. I hesitated to even submit this story but I figured it may resonate with someone else out there that is the helper who needs help during these very trying times.