How do I Find Charitable Help for my Family?

My father is from Norway, a country that apparently provides good treatment for family members with medical situations. That is all I heard growing up. I love the U.S., certainly a great country to secure goods and services, but also a great country that has a faulty health care system. Basic health care should be the government's priority when dealing with its systems, especially when it wants us to conform to behavior standards and legal mumbo jumbo. You work all of your life and build a financial future, only to lose it all when a family member becomes ill or has an exceptional medical situation, so why even bother? Where on earth does all of our tax money go?

I am looking for help to move my family home. Our granddaughter was born with serious defects and we need to move home to help our kids with her. Any info and help is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

I am trying to find work on SSI and need a daily aid job.

I need prayers too. We are so screwed. Things are a little slow at work combined with the fact that Obamacare has doubled my insurance cost (I am literally losing a whole day pay to the increase) and we can't make ends meet. We beg, borrow and steal to make it work but we are about to hit a dead end. I am so angry at the world!

I am a mother of three children, two of whom have "special needs." Although my husband has a job, it is in the auto industry in Michigan and he has been getting laid off every few weeks. We are without heat in the winter and can barely put food on the table We don't qualify for any help, which I don't understand because with the bills that we have to have, not counting any "wants", only "needs", we don't even break even, and to make matters worse, our landlord just put our house on the market and they are very motivated to sell, and already have interested buyers.

Our credit score is just under what it needs to be to buy our own home (we have unpaid medical bills on our report). I'm so scared, my son has to stay in this county because he attends a school for special needs kids and it has done wonders for him. He was never supposed to talk or walk and even though he is very delayed, he is doing amazing for a child with Dandywalker Syndrome. I've prayed and prayed, and it just feels like more and more keeps happening. It's really hard to trust that everything will be okay when we could be homeless next month. I wish there was help out there! I'm feeling so lost and helpless!

I am in a dire financial situation that I never thought possible. I am a single mom of two teenage boys. I am a very hard worker and have been working since 16 years of age. My belief in a work ethic doesn't seem to be shared by many.

I have lost my job and I am struggling greatly. I have been selling everything I can online, looking for a job, and seeking financial help from my county and the state. I am a very proud person but I have swallowed my pride and reached out to many organizations: local churches, charities, assistance offices, salvation army, red cross etc. My electric bill was due to be cut off, but I was able to sell enough online to cover the utilities bill.

However, my situation is with the rent now. I have reached out to so many and with each turn I am turned down and sent in different directions. I have been told by most sympathetic agencies that they are out of funding and that this a bad month. Although sympathetic, this will not keep a roof over my head. I find it very disheartening that I have worked my whole life, whether it be minimum wage, two jobs, pt or ft each job I did to the best of my ability with a sense of pride.

I do not know where else to turn and I am afraid I will be homeless and my boys will have to go live with their father. I feel like a complete failure. I feel lost and do not know where else to turn. If anyone has advice, help or knowledge of a better way, please post.

I don't know if anything here can help. My daughter and three children have been terrorized by her abusive ex for over a year now, and the police have done nothing.

Anyway, she wanted to move their mobile home from where they have lived, to my other daughter's park, about 13 miles away. She had someone ready to move it, but the zoning guy from Phelps denied it today, even though it has new furnace, windows, plumbing and electric, but it's a '68. They so need to be somewhere where they feel safe and that would be the case in my daughter's park where there's a nice end lot.

She's been taking care of her children and loves them so much, and has recently gotten a better job, but I don't think, short of a miracle, she can buy a mobile home on her own. I would cosign, but right now, I don't have a job.

I'm so praying someone out there with a heart can help them, and will. I am praying for a miracle, please, Lord.

There is no help out there. We've tried for over a year to get help for a homeless family, with a mother who has a terminal illness. We tried the Salvation Army, Goodwill, Catholic Charities, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, township trustees, local churches, government help, and the list goes on. God bless you all who are in the same boat. I wish there were answers. Guess you have to know how to play the system.

I will say the Salvation Army and the local churches have helped them with food, but with nowhere to sleep, eat, live or cook, it's still depressing for them.

Hi, once again, I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no help out there, period. All the websites you can register at for secret angel helpers, all the Good Wills, Salvation Armies, Toys for Tots, etc, no help from any of them. The only help you might get is food from a food pantry. People are all talk when it comes to giving charitable help to anyone, especially strangers.

Over the past five years my family has been faced with homelessness, we have lived without electricity, (no help available to turn on the electricity at the end of October in the Midwest!)

We had to abandon our apartment because the heat was electric start-up and it got cold. There was no help, period. We asked for coats, but nope. We asked for Christmas help for the kids Nope. Help with security deposit for an apartment? Nope. No, no, no, no.

All the way around. Catholic Charities has been the only helpful charity, period. They gave us food, and one gift per child at Christmas. And I'm not even Catholic. They still turned us down when I asked for coats for the kids, despite the fact that they had an entire rack of donated coats sitting there.

Please folks, I do not mean to crush your spirits, but there truly are no goodwill angels out there waiting to help you in particular. We are all struggling. Our best bet is to try to help one another, because nobody else really understands the struggle like we do. Peace.

I will keep all of you in my thoughts, but frankly, there is no help. Anywhere. My family of eight has been faced with homelessness several times over the past five years. Two of my children have health and emotional problems. Now, just when I land a contract position where I can actually dig us out of poverty, my car breaks down and is not worth the $2000 it will take to repair.

My oldest daughter has type 2 Diabetes, Proteinuresis (kidney damage) nd ovarian cyst, a recurring cyst on her foot, and no insurance. My father, who is 78, has kidney failure, heart problems, and is at times mentally unstable. My fiance' has seizure disorder, diabetes, and other health problems. My youngest almost died in March, and I spent three days at her hospital bedside. My sister and nephew are homeless, and at time stay on my couch, and you know what? Other than food pantries, there is no food anywhere. None.

I will keep each and every one of you in my thoughts, but please understand, there are no angels out there waiting to do good for you or your family. In fact, you have a better chance with other people who are struggling, helping you than some random, well to do angel on a good will kick. Peace all.

I am not the best of writers and lots said in this story may be misunderstood or misinterpreted. Please feel free to seek clarity if anything is unclear or if you need to ask me any questions.

I am a very ambitious, well qualified and experienced, fit and healthy individual who has been plagued by a few unfortunate personal circumstances that have forced me to stoop to these desperate measures to get my message across and try and seek help.

I have an ailing mother, a wife, a daughter in high school, a son in high school (grade 8) and a little baby boy who truly proved to be a miracle since his birth in June 2010.

The baby is suffering from a major congenital heart disease called "Tricuspid Atresia type 2c." This means he was born without a tricuspid valve, and his lungs are found on the left side of his heart. i.e., on the wrong side of heart. He has two holes in heart, his red and blue blood are mixing and he has a narrowed pulmonary artery.

His condition deteriorated into another condition called Pulmonary Veins stenosis - (ie. the narrowing of the veins from the left lung into the heart). There is no “corrective surgery” that can be done for him. He will need a heart and lung transplant if he lives up to the qualifying age of between eight to twelve years old.

The baby turned three years old this year and has undergone three open-heart surgeries since he was two and half months old. He will undergo his fourth open heart surgery at the end of October. He is currently struggling to maintain normal growth, a reasonable weight, good skin color, acceptable blood pressure levels, heart rates, saturation levels, etc. His medical bills are expensive and I am truly struggling to make ends meet with little or no salary at all, mos of the time.

I am not suggesting that I receive hand-outs, but while I am still healthy, qualified, well experienced, skilled and competent, I am pleading to be given an opportunity in life to work and become financially equipped to support my family and to continue helping the needy that I started cooking and feeding a few years ago on a monthly basis.

My current personal circumstances have truly hampered my many attempts to progress and to sustain my key deliverables in this world and I am pleading for any sort of opportunity to be able to work, earn a decent salary and help me deliver on the various commitments, since I have been without fixed and/or any decent paying employment since 2011.

I am available to start any project/employment asap and I am prepared to travel or relocate if required. I am able to work for any industry/organization and I am confident of adding great value to any organization. Any short contract work that I had could not sustain my survival or enable me to meet my commitments. I am also not utilising my full potential. I have so much more to offer.

There is help!The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints can help you find a job, and helped us get food. They also helped us to keep up the faith.

They provided helpful and hopeful care by not simply giving handouts, but assisting us to get out there by ourselves. They were loving and non-judgemental.

You can find your nearest building by going online. Visit them. Talk to their bishop. Call their number. Call the missionaries.

Trust me. I could not have done anything without them.

I'll pray for all of you! Together we can do it. But you have to take the first step. Call them.

My name is Philip and I am from India. I came across this site. I was working in a very good firm, but I have lost my job and I am jobless now. I am married and have two children, ages 14 and 3. I find that I may fall short financially and hope to get a new job. Pray for me and my family that we may overcome these hurdles.

My boyfriend and I are having trouble finding a house that is big enough for us and our five kids. I have 4 girls and one boy living with us right now and it is hard for us to be staying in a three bedroom home. We don't have any transportation to get around we are looking for a van also if anyone can help.

I am in a dire financial situation that I never thought possible. I am a single mom of two teenage boys. I am a very hard worker and have been working since 16 years of age. My belief in a work ethic doesn't seem to be shared by many.

I have lost my job and I am struggling greatly. I have been selling everything I can online, looking for a job, and seeking financial help from my county and the state. I am a very proud person but I have swallowed my pride and reached out to many organizations: local churches, charities, assistance offices, salvation army, red cross etc. My electric bill was due to cut off tom 4-17-13 but I was able to sell enough online to cover the utilities bill.

However, my situation is with the rent now. I have reached out to so many and with each turn I am turned down and sent in different directions. I have been told by most sympathetic agencies that they are out of funding and that this a bad month. Although sympathetic, this will not keep a roof over my head. I find it very disheartening that I have worked my whole life, whether it be minimum wage, two jobs, pt or ft each job I did to the best of my ability with a sense of pride.

I do not know where else to turn and I am afraid I will be homeless and my boys will have to go live with their father. I feel like a complete failure. I feel lost and do not know where else to turn. If anyone has advice, help or knowledge of a better way please post.

I don’t know what to do and am asking for help. I am on Social Security and do not own a home, etc. My daughter and granddaughter live in a different state and need help badly. My daughter has lost her job due to illness. She has no car or phone, only a computer, which I pay the bill for. Her rent is due and she hasn’t got the money and although I give her a little here and there, it is not enough to cover her rent. She will have to go to a shelter soon and lose everything she owns, which by the way, she tried to sell and could not.

Her daughter is 20 years old and a beautiful and usually smart girl. But she is in an abusive relationship and is scared to leave the guy although he was in and out of jail for years. She has had black eyes and now a broken wrist, and he also smashed the windshield on her car so she couldn’t drive it anymore, and who knows what else he does to her. She said if she calls the police, he would hurt her since he always gets out of jail. So she takes the abuse. I am so afraid he will eventually kill her.

I have tried to tell her to run away and come to me but she will not and I can’t talk to her without him listening in on all her calls. He texts sometimes pretending to be her as well. So both my daughter and granddaughter are in bad shape. I wanted to go there but cannot afford it and still am so afraid if I were there, I would want to hurt this guy, and then I would end up in jail.

I am on Social Security and so I don’t have a lot of options. I just don’t know what to do to help either of them, except talk and try to get my granddaughter to speak up about the abuse, and write letters for my daughter to try and get the help she needs. I wrote so much to so many people in and out of the government, as well as churches, etc., and no one helps, except to say call the Salvation Army or United Way, but they will not help until you are in a shelter. By then, my daughter would lose everything and give up completely. She had a good job before she got ill and even put herself through school without any help or welfare and now that she needs it she can’t get help, except for referrals to pain clinics to deal with her pain.

I just want everyone to now that even when you try and try again and again, it does not matter sometimes. You just have to be rich or have rich relatives to get anything in this world. I can’t figure out how some people get welfare and housing, etc., and some don’t even need it and the ones who really do can’t get anything, even disability. She has been told by doctors I paid for that she needs to go on DSI, but has been rejected two times now and thinks there is no hope and wants to end living. She says she can’t help herself, so how can she help her daughter.

I wish I knew what to do about all this and am ranting on here as I have to other people. I don’t want to give up on them as I love them so much and my heart breaks for them so I try to be positive, but it is so hard to do. Thanks for letting me speak up, even if it may not make much sense.

I'm desperate! TEP Tucson cut our power last week! I paid 200 dollars out of 500. I asked them if it is possible to let me catch up in the next weeks, but they didn't. For one week, my kids and my family have been without power. It is almost impossible to cook, no refrigerator, no light for homework either.

I sold our TV so can provide food for the babies, but I can't afford the rest of the power bill! The future looks good, because we moved in this basement apt so we can avoid excess on AC/Heater. Please where can I find help? God bless you all!

My parents and I found ourselves homeless from November 2012 to March 2013. We were lucky enough to find a motel that was willing to work with us on payments while we were there.

With us making some monthly payments, we still have a balance of over $3000, now that we have finally found a new place to call home. Between my parents living on only their Social Security checks, with monthly rent, utilities and other monthly necessities. They are unable to pay the $400 per month the hotel is requesting. If they could just get help paying off this hotel bill, it would help out tremendously! We aren't real sure where to turn, so I've been visiting quite a few sites for ideas, in hopes that a heavenly miracle can take this weight off their shoulders. We pray night and day, that this hotel won't try taking us to court over this issue. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you and God bless.

How does an individual help one of the posters?

I do not know what to say or how to say anything without crying but I am asking for heavenly prayer. I have not seen my parents in ten years; they live overseas and I can't afford to visit them.

Both my children have autism and that makes it hard for me to save up or keep a stable job. My trials and problems are many. I often look to my children for comfort because they love and peace to me in every way. Sometimes I feel so lost, confused, alone, sad, anxious, hopeless, and lonely. I am looking for a job. I have experience in apartment management.

I am honest, hardworking, dependable, caring and loyal. Please help me pray to Jesus for a blessing. I wish you guys all the best of luck as well.

I hope everyone is doing well. I came across this site by mistake. I was trying to find irganizations in Orlando that help with gas vouchers and food. I do not know what to do. I live over an hour from my job and have an old gas guzzling Explorer. One trip to work and back sucks up almost 1/4 of a tank of gas.

I am a single mother with 3 children, plus I take care of my ill, legally blind mother. She has no income. My job is our only source and I'm looking for a second job. I just don't know how I'm going to make gas to and from work until I get my second job. I just got paid today and after Paying my bills I have just over $100 left, with me living 10 miles from most places at least, there's no way that will last me for gas for the next two weeks. If I don't have gas I can't get to work, and if I don't go to work I get fired. Then we will be in a bad situation.

I really don't know where to go for help. Anyone with any suggestions will be appreciated. I make 10.00 per hour, and according to public assistance I make too much (about 1400.00 a month; my rent alone is $800, plus $100 towards my deposit $700 of that left to go) It's just impossible. I don't know what to do.

My husband and I make a reasonable amount of money for this economy, but medical bills are piling up from a complicated pregnancy and two children with hearing problems. We pay out more a month for medical bills than we do for our mortgage. We live in a 3,000sq ft home in a town in a rural area and have three toddlers and 2 outside cats.

We are trying to find a family who has fallen on hard times due to the economy to help us out a little financially each month and to in return help them to save money so they will be able to get back on their feet and reach some of their goals and dreams. With all of the violence in the news we have become fearful. We are unsure how to safely advertise for this.

@amypollick: Toys for Tots is not able to help. They are not helping individual families, only shelters and those kinds of organizations. We are signed up with the Salvation Army. That's one gift per child, but that's better than nothing, I guess.

I still haven't found my Christmas angel, but I will continue to pray right up until Christmas and hope God sends one in my direction for my children. Thank you for responding, though. I'm very thankful for any information.

First thank you for this page. I am in need of home repair. I am getting ready to have my fifth brain surgery and am unable to work. I collect SSI.

My home is just caving in around me. All the work to be done is on the inside, like my kitchen cabinets are falling off the walls and my floor has big holes. I don't know what to do or where to turn from here. Winter is coming fast and I have no heat source. I own my home and just hope help arrives soon.

I live in Northern Kentucky, and as hard as it is to say this, I need help. I am so sorry to have to ask.

@mommyof4: Try Toys for Tots. You can make a request on their website, and your children are within the age range they serve.

Also contact the Salvation Army in your area and see if you are eligible to have your children listed on their Angel Tree. You will need to do this right away in order to have them listed.

Good luck and God bless you.

Well long story short, I am a mother of five children, our only vehicle has become non existent, so now my husband can no longer work. We are on the verge of losing everything, as we are already behind. Like everyone else knows, if you work, you make too much money for assistance and if you don't, it's impossible to find the assistance.

I am looking for a running vehicle so my husband or I can go back to work and try to take care of our family. He is in the middle of extensive doctor's visits due to poor health, so we have been unable to keep those appointments. We can't even mange a trip to the store.

Everything is going wrong right now and we just need a little blessing. This whole mess has put my husband into a depression, and all I want is stability for my children. It's hard to humble yourself and ask for help, but if anyone can point us in a direction it would be so appreciated!

Thank you and many blessings to everyone on here, you are in my prayers!

I am writing to ask for Christmas help for my 4 children. I have three boys, ages 2 1/2, 6, and 9, and one girl, age 7. We spent 11 months in a family shelter due to a home invasion and every penny I get now goes to rent and electricity.

We just found out a few months ago that my 2 1/2 year old also has Scoliosis, which has been another bump in the road for our family.

Last year was so so sad on Christmas morning for them, I fought back tears. I have looked for help everywhere I know of, but budgets are cut and services are limited. I need a Christmas Angel to help my kids believe in the magic of Santa Claus again. Every time they show me what they want Santa to bring them, I just tear up with sadness because I just can't do it this year and every kid deserves a Christmas.

I pray every night that I could find a way to get some help and I found this web site. Please, if anyone could help, I'd be more than thankful.

How about a doctor telling me I needed to quit working in ‘93 because I’m disabled with many things wrong with me. (Nothing I went out to get.) I was living with a hubby who didn’t want to work or do anything good for us, trying to raise two kids and paying my doctor bills with no insurance.

I finally left him because he was making me sicker because he thought men beating up ladies was OK. But I couldn’t leave until the kids got old enough because I was disabled and he could prove I couldn’t care for them on my own financially. I left him. I made him leave. I had no money, but my sanity was more important. I took care of myself for two years alone with barely anything. Then I met a great guy. I took him in when he had no job and I helped him find one and then he took care of me for seven years. Then all of a sudden, he dies and leaves me with nothing.

I need to stay in my house. I’ve been here for 27 years and I fought so hard for it. It’s a steady place, My kids were raised here and come back when they need to care for me and now my grandkid can be here. But the payments are just still a little too high for me since I had to take ex off and pay him off. It was worth it! I’m fighting to stay here because I know I’m safe here. I have people around me who take care of me, look out for me, and help me with anything I need help with. I also have a blind dog who only knows this house.

But at least I tried to work and just couldn’t do it. I’m too sick to keep up a four-hour job. I used to work and volunteer until I couldn’t anymore. But I tried my best as long as I could! Now, there’s no help. I’m getting sicker in some ways, but I have many years left. I still have utilities and medical. All I want is to get help with staying in a house I need to be in for my health reasons. For sometimes it’s best for a disabled to stay put where they are, instead of moving around to unfamiliar places where they can fall.

Where do I get help with this? I’m willing to make blankets and pillow cases for kids in need as I did before, at my own pace, as I did all my life. That’s all I can do. I always seemed to give to people in need, whether I was helping family or friends in little ways. Now I’m hoping it is my turn to get a little help. But there is nothing out there for people in my situation. They told me I would get more help being homeless. If I was homeless, my medical issues and bills would go up and I would need more transportation and help than what I have now. I just need some help to keep me in a safe place. --Tucson Az

My son needs knee surgery and has no health insurance. He is the father of two small children and has been unable to work the last month. He works construction and has always been able to work through the pain but not this time. He can't even straighten it out.

He doesn't have the money to see an orthopedic doctor, and the ER won't do anything. I know there has to be some help out there so he can get it fixed and go back to supporting his family.

I am trying to find him help but I live in Pennsylvania. Please give me some info on where to turn or who to try to contact in the North Alabama area.

My husband and I have always worked hard for what we have whether it was pay check to paycheck or not. My husband has always been the major bread winner. The type job he has is if he doesn't work. he doesn't get paid. (auto body technician)

This is our story. This past Sunday my husband and I were working outside. He starting having a heavy feeling in his chest, sweating profusely and dizziness. He went to the ER and the tests came back bad for his heart. So the next day they decided to put in stents, but when they went in they couldn't do anything because the major arteries to his heart were blocked. So yesterday he had triple bypass surgery. Now, he will be off for a couple of months from work. But the thing, is he won't be getting a paycheck.

Who can we get in touch with to help us out during this time so we don't lose our house for non-payment of the mortgage payment, and paying on our bills including water and electric, which is important. Any help with info would be greatly appreciated.

@mftfap: If credit card bills are your main problem, have you considered debt consolidation? This is when you contract with a company to contact your creditors to stop collection proceedings and agree to a set amount per month. You pay one monthly bill which covers all your creditors, and that's it.

I went through it several years ago and I'm so glad I did. It helped me get some hefty bills paid off, and it was much easier coming up with one payment than six.

If you're struggling to pay your power bill, try meeting with your utility company to see what they can do for you. Some companies have a budget billing program that isn't based on income. You might also want to call your local Salvation Army to see what they might be able to offer, as far as resources. Good luck.

I am a single mother of two (12 and 4). I am getting no financial help from the father of my children and had to actually take him to court so he can't be around my children for drug reasons.

So with the court costs and everyday living for my kids, I got behind on bills. But what do you do? I can't seem to get caught up for the life of me.

Government agencies won't help because I have a job and they say I make too much money, even though I can't afford to put meals on the table for my girls and me, and I can sometimes barely afford to put gas in my car to get to work and back home. I make too much money. I am normally the one helping out someone else and I hate to ask for help, but don't know what or where else to go. Anything and everything is greatly appreciated!

I am in need of someone to help me get a moving truck, and some help moving. I am on disability, and cannot move my things alone. I have a two bedroom move. I am in bad health, and have no friends or family where I live, and so I need to get back home where I will be close to my family. My family won't help me move, nor can my friends back home. If anyone can tell me where to get help, it would be greatly appreciated. God bless you all!

I need a financial help for my daughter's treatment. she needs orthodontics treatment and plastic surgery (cleft lip and palate).

is there any organization from where I can get the help for my daughter's treatment?

If anyone has any information, please let me know. your support will be greatly appreciated.

@davanna2011: I don't know how you feel about church, but getting into a church family might help. They might know someone who could drive you to Birmingham once a month, or who could help do some work on your house at a good price.

Could you do any volunteer work? That's a great way to get to know people. Maybe some organization in your area needs someone who is computer-savvy and can do data entry, or you could volunteer to walk the dogs at your local shelter. Maybe help do clerical work at the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity or another non-profit organization. Maybe you could help at your local library. I suggest this because volunteer work is such a good way to make friends and connections.

You could also ask at the local nursing home if any residents would like cards from someone. You can get a big box of cards at Dollar General for next to nothing. Write cheerful notes and take them to the nursing home. If you're not able to deliver them personally, you can give them to the activity director, who will distribute them for you. You just don't know how much something as simple as a card means to someone whose family doesn't come to see them. If you can visit, it would mean the world to some people.

One reason I make these suggestions is because I get the strong feeling you think your life has little value. You don't matter, you think, and you're not contributing anything to the world. But you *can* contribute! These small acts that mean everything to someone can give your life meaning, as well.

As for your dad, well, I know you are doing everything you can for him. Try not to feel guilty about what you're not able to do. I'll bet it never occurred to you that he feels guilty, too, because *he* can't help you as he wants to. He's your dad and can't even drive you to the doctor. It must be hard on him, too. But the way to deal with these folks sometimes, is to nod and agree with everything they say-- and then do what you want to do. LOL. Your dad needs to feel needed, too. And you always need your daddy, regardless. Let him feel like you're depending on him, even when you're doing your own thing.

Do any of your dogs have the proper temperament to be therapy dogs? That's a wonderful gift of service. Therapy dogs are tremendously popular these days.

I am not minimizing or denigrating what you're going through. But I know that reaching out to others is sometimes the best therapy for oneself. Also, please try to get some grief counseling. It could really, really help you get some perspective in your life. It really is helpful.

Take care, good luck and God bless.

I am a very hesitant to put anything up on this board. I’m used to be the one helping others, not the one asking for help. I feel a bit humiliated, but I don’t know what else to do. I don’t want money, I just need help. I am 45 years old, live in southern Alabama with my father. Last April, I lost my husband of 25 years to a massive heart attack. He was my whole world and now I’m so lost without him. He was only 45 and it was his third heart attack.

In the months since he has passed I have had to move from my home, into a house my father purchased. I know no one here, even after seven months. I have a lot of medical problems, have had over 30 surgeries including brain surgery. I have a lot of neurological problems and suffer from chronic migraines among another list of problems that I will not go into.

I was in a wheel chair for four years. I have a specialist that I see in Birmingham. He’s been my doctor for over five years and I don’t want to have to get used to another one all over again since he is superb. However, I have no driver’s license and not knowing anyone in the area makes getting up to see him every month a big problem and my Dad is in no condition to drive that far.

My father is 70 years old, retired Navy and is not in very good shape either. In the last two years he was in a horrible car wreck, found out he had prostate cancer (which is in remission at the present) and Crohn’s disease. The house he bought needs quite a bit of work done on it and there are so many things that neither of us are able to do. I also have six golden retrievers who are like my children and I can’t get out and play and roughhouse with them like my husband did. I just know if he were here he’d have all the answers, or would know what to do.

I live with this horrible guilt that I cannot help my Dad as I should. I should be taking care of him. There are sometimes friction between the two of us. He thinks I’m still a child and need to be told every little thing to do, and he’s not an animal lover so that is always a problem. I try to stay in my room as much as possible so I can avoid any argument that might occur. His negativity about everything keeps me on eggshells. But, I suppose if I were in his shoes and at his age had a 45 year old daughter dropped on my lap I’d be negative too. I lost my mom in 1997 to colon cancer. I have no children, no siblings and I know no one here.

Last August, I got to where I could not take any more. The loss of my husband, the move, the constant feeling of being a burden, not knowing anyone or able to talk to anyone was just too much for me. I swallowed a bottle of Xanax (120) of them. I woke up five days later in ICU with a respirator down my neck, sore chest and ribs from paddles and CPR. My first thought was how could I botch the job so horribly. Honestly, I have thought about it quite a few times since then, but the guilt of doing that to my father would be too much to bear.

Over the last couple weeks, I’ve written several different messages on different message boards but I receive no answer. I don’t know how to take that. I really can’t take this anymore and as I’ve said several times, I just don’t know what to do. I want my husband back, I want my life back. Please someone give me some kind of advice.

Had a job, a business and a nice home with a husband and four children and two dogs. My, how things can change overnight! We lost our business due to the economy crash, which in turn, caused us to lose our vehicles and home and dogs that we could no longer feed.

My husband did find a new job after a year of looking but, just when you think things can't get worse I was diagnosed with major mastitis and I lost my job. Things got a little better when we found a home (all the floors were rotten and friends donated materials to make it livable).

So we now have a three bedroom single wide with one bathroom where we all six live, but in early December, my husband lost his job again, I am still unemployed and my mastitis is back after three surgeries.

Today I was told I need to have a neurologist scan my head because I keep losing my vision, possibly due to severe migraines. With no insurance I will have to wait until it gets so bad I am admitted into the hospital. We don't only know how we will pay our bills but don't know how we are going to give our kids Christmas. I applied for Christmas Cheer in the area and no one selected our children.

I guess it's all prayers that I will rely on for now! Please pray for us too, if you are reading this! I can't ask for anything because we do have each other. I only ask for your prayers!

I am a mother of two. I have a three year old son and a two month old. I had to have a c section. my son came three weeks early and my house flooded all at the same time.

I was living in a hotel and I am now back into my house, but of course the bills just keep coming. I had to go back to work after having my son he was only three weeks old. I had to do so my water and electric was not shut off.

I can't work much because my doctor won't let me. all I am asking for this christmas is to keep a roof over my kids' heads, keep them warm and fed.

I have been on my knees all night praying trying to figure this out and I found this I am just trying to keep my family warm and fed and I am doing my best! Please somehow help me and my family. This is all I am asking for christmas. they don't need any toys. they need to be safe and warm and fed! Please Lord, help me and my family! Whitney L.S.

i have a seventeen year old and a ten year old. i work full time, but barely make enough to pay my bills. i need to get another job but my seventeen year old has recently has been getting into a lot of trouble. i am three months behind in rent and almost at the end of my rope. i need any help or suggestions because i am out of ideas.

I am looking for help as well. I am not making ends meet, my health is not good, I am out of my house from about 7 in the morning until 6:30 or 7:00 at night. I work a full time job and am doing everything within my power to provide but it is not working, and I need some financial assistance. God has said, "ask and ye shall receive" and so I am asking. Please someone help. Thank you!

My family is in need of help financially. I was laid off in 2008 and have lost my unemployment. I signed up with three temp services and call every day to be told to call tomorrow.

I have gone to the library and job searched and had no calls. I live in a trailer and have two payments left, but haven't paid them in three months and am on the verge of losing the trailer. My husband works nights at 9.00 an hour and the bills have stacked up without any income from me. My 17 year old daughter got a job at McDonalds and it is only three days a week.

I applied for assistance and was turned down for any help but insurance. We can go to the food shelf once every 60 days for one week's worth of food that we try to stretch as long as we can. Where do we get help? I just see living in the car coming soon.

I'm raising a grandson, lost my job and we are now homeless. I have found a small place we can afford, but no help with the utilities. Why is it that Family and Children Services are allowed to give grandparents or relatives only 155.00 a month to raise our own children but will give a foster parent 1500.00, who may or may not abuse our children. Where do we go for help?

What is wrong with Washington? We worry about school test scores, but the scores would be better if family members were allowed to love and care for their own instead of strangers.

I am overwhelmed with bills. I am behind with all my bills. I am trying to keep a roof over our head and it has been hard.

I live with my son and daughter. My son has been laid off since January 2009 and has not been able to find a job. he did return to school and graduated in April, but us unable to find work, and my daughter is in high school.

I tried to find a second job and to no avail. I don't know if there is assistance for people like myself and others out there. I pray for us all that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that somehow we will survive. vcaa

I am looking for a little help. My family, (me, my finance, his mother, and his 2 year old niece (which came to live with us after her mother died when she was thre emonths old.) has really fallen on hard times right now. I have never asked anyone for help before, but I have exhausted resources that we have in our town. We lost our house we were renting, because the owners wanted to move back in. They broke the lease so we had to move. We had another house we were going to move in, but it fell through at the last minute. So my finance and me have been staying in a hotel now for almost a month, with his mother and niece our staying with his grandmother. He lost his job and hasn't been able to find another one, even though he has put in 100's of apps and resumes. We are fixing to lose our only means of transportation. We are three months behind in payments. My finance has been doing side jobs, but that money is going for the hotel bill. He has only about another week of work then I guess will be sleeping in the truck, until they come and get it. God help us after that. I have asked churches, food banks, united way. Everything is about or without funds. My finance has over 27 years experience in construction. If you know of anyone hiring in the atl, ga area let us know please. We have been looking for another house, but can't save on what little he is getting. And his mother only gets an ss check. I have been looking for a job or least something to help get us by. But not too many people are hiring. I would appreciate any help or any info where I might get some help. Just need a little boost back up. Thank you for your time in reading my story. I know there is a lot of people who are worse off than me right now. Just asking for that little boost. Thank you.

We recently have taken in a friend of ours and our best friends who happen to own Promise Land Tree Service but with the economy are having trouble finding people who can afford to have the services done and are willing to accommodate at any price. This has put us in a financial burden as we have a daughter with disabilities. We are just asking if there is anyone out there willing to put them to work for the church or congregation at the lowest price possible. My husband who works 40 hours a week has been doing his best after work to pass out flyers.

I need financial help for my family, my husband lost his job, we ran out of money. And now are split in three different places. My oldest daughter is with friends, and i and our youngest are with other friends, and my husband is at his mom's. Not only did he lose his job a few months ago, but now our only truck -- our form of transportation has broke down. The motor blew up. On a good note he has sold some of our stuff and will be taking his HVAC test tomorrow. But we still have no transportation, or any money to get our own place. It seems hopeless. If anyone out there can help us it would be greatly appreciated, we miss each other so much, we just need a hand up so we can get back on our feet.

I need a financial help due to the current economic situation, such as home repairs, expense payments, etc. Is there an organization or place my wife and I can get a little help for these and a few other things? Thanks for any information/direction you can provide.

I'm needing financial help getting a lot of cats spayed and neutered. There ferals mostly. Some of them have become tame. There's over thirty of them now. I keep them from going hungry. But its hard to afford them. If they keep breading, I won't be able to keep them from going hungry. signed Country Girl in Mo.