Rebecca’s story is one that is all too familiar due to the current economic situation. Her family’s story is one of hope and encouragement.
For help finding the services you need for Food, Shelter, Child Care, Elder Care and more. Call 2-1-1 or 1-888-600-4357 or visit 2-1-1. (http://www.211oc.org).
Rebecca’s 211 Testimonial: United Way connects families with the services they need.
I would like to start by saying thank you for your time and letting tell my story.
This is one of the hardest things for me to do because I not the kind of person that likes to air my dirty laundry, But I feel that my story need to be told because there are too many people like me that don’t know that they too can get help; they just need to put their pride aside and ask.
Before December of last year, my family was the kind of family that would give money to the feed the families funds, always putting the extra pennies in the red buckets, and giving to other charities that would came along. Before December, I never thought we would be the people that would need help, or be asking for help of any kind. After the happiest and most magical time of the year, things went downhill for us very fast. My husband came back from the two week Christmas black-out at his job as an Aerospace engineer only to be laid off. Thinking it would be okay because my husband would find a job right away, we planned to survive on his un-employment, my income from my part-time job, and our savings account.
However, I was having my own troubles at part-time job as a massage therapist, due to the slipping economy. I was working less and less, and making less and less money.
My husband would get up every morning and pound the pavement, send his resume to any one that would look at it, respond to every want add in the paper, and talk to anyone that might have a job opening. He even thought about standing on the day labor corner.
But as weeks turned in to months, our savings is now a major part of our income and was going fast. We had to tighten our belts, and each month money was getting tighter and tighter. We were able to pay rent, but it was getting later and later each month. We were facing losing our apartment and both cars, having the lights turned off, the phone disconnected, the water would be gone, and anything else that goes along with living. It was getting to be too much, and we had borrowed money from any and all the family members that could help, sold and pawned all that we could live with out, and cut back on all extras. My mother in-law made us go and get help from the government, and we got food stamps. That should be end of story right, but it wasn’t; we got them for a day, only a day! Only half of what they said we would get because it was prorated. Then we get a letter the next day explaining we make too much money on unemployment by $100.00, asking when we could pay them back, and with one full payment or a payment arrangement. I just wanted to cry and crawl in a hole and stay there. Now at this point we our robbing Peter to pay Paul just to keep food on the table. Around this my job is thinking about closing their doors, and I can’t get unemployment because I was a 1099ed employee.
I guess we were wearing our hearts on our sleeves because a friend of ours that works for United Way noticed that things were not quite right, and saw that we were being a little more distant with everyone, and that is not us at all. She gave me her ear to talk to and some numbers to call. I took the numbers and advice. I did feel better that I could tell someone what I was feeling but I never called, letting pride get the best of me again. So I put the numbers in the file cabinet and didn’t think any more about it.
By now it has been about 5 months and my husband has not found a job, but has been on countless interviews and I am looking for a second job as well. We both have college degrees, my husband is licensed with the FAA, and we can’t even get jobs with McDonalds.
For some reason I went back to those numbers and called thinking they can only tell me no. I was at the end of my rope so I called, and I heard the best words in the world: “Yes we can help with what you need.” I had to have her repeat herself just to make sure, but that is what she said; and they helped! They helped with rent, putting food on the table, and helped us to re-budget our money. But they helped with so much more than just money and food, they gave us back our hope; they gave us back us.
That little bit helped a lot, and it seemed to turn our luck around. Three weeks later my husband got a job, and I was able to get my insurance license and start a new job. We are not back on top but we are getting there.
Thank you all for supporting United Way. United Way was able to help me get the help we needed to make ends meet until we got back on our feet. Thank you again from a very thankful family.
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American’s to create meaningful change in their communities by engaging in volunteerism and community service, which runs through September 11, the new National Day of Service and Remembrance.
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Posted by ocuw 
Wells Fargo was awarded two Summit Awards from United Way of America, their highest national award given for standout corporations.
