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Ruth is a single parent of a teenage son and a daughter in primary school - help us after a sudden redundancy

A single parent in Bakersfield needs help with childcare, groceries and rent while Ruth retrains.

🇺🇸 Bakersfield, California, United States2,429 views
Ruth W. Cunningham
Email verified
Bakersfield
After a sudden redundancy in July, I'm now raising a teenage son and a daughter in primary school on my own. I work as a retail cashier, but my income doesn't cover rent, childcare and groceries. I'm retraining as a teaching assistant in the evenings, which will triple my income by November, but I need to bridge the gap until then. Some weeks I skip meals so my children can eat. I have never asked anyone for help like this before, and I'm doing it for them. Once I finish my course, I'll pay it forward. Money goes toward rent, groceries, after-school care and the cost of my course. I'll give a monthly update with receipts. Where the $3,900 goes: • Rent top-up: $1,800 • Childcare and after-school care: $820 • Groceries and school meals: $890 • Course fees and exam costs: $390 If you're reading this, thank you. - Ruth

Updates from Ruth

  1. Good news. Because of your gifts ($1,156 in total) I met with the landlord and confirmed the amounts. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

  2. 25% there. I made the first payment toward childcare and after-school care. Thank you.

  • Marieke Eva Van den Heuvel 🇳🇱 · $30
  • Silas L. Byrd 🇺🇸 · $50
  • Tatiane Cláudia Dantas 🇧🇷 · $5

    “Get well soon. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - Vitória da Conquista”

  • Henrique Ronaldo Gomes 🇧🇷 · $5
  • Céline Jean 🇫🇷 · $10

    “Thought of Ruth all day after reading this. - Paris”

  • Anonymous 🇸🇦 · $25
  • Anonymous 🇬🇧 · $25
  • Ebo Kwaku Mensah 🇬🇭 · $5
  • Lea Ida Werner 🇩🇪 · $10
  • Hira Afshan Chaudhry 🇵🇰 · $50
  • Anonymous 🇧🇷 · $20
  • Dinesh P. Luthra 🇦🇺 · $20
  • Rowan J. Bowers 🇬🇧 · $69

    “Only $69 but hope it helps. - Manchester”

  • Tommaso De Rosa 🇮🇹 · $20
  • Hetal A. Sathe 🇮🇳 · $25
  • Nadeesha Jayawardena 🇱🇰 · $5
  • Manon Justine Dupont 🇫🇷 · $50
  • Aubree Cox 🇬🇧 · $25
  • Aiden A. Hopkins 🇦🇺 · $15
  • Amanuel Kebede Ayele 🇪🇹 · $20

    “Every little bit. Thought of Ruth all day after reading this. - Adama”

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  • Hope it all works out, Ruth. A secure home matters so much. Hope you're settled soon. I have a 7 year old who wants to send good wishes too!

    • Good luck, Ruth. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. I went through something like this 10 years ago and strangers helped me out. Blessings

      • Sending good thoughts, Ruth. A secure home matters so much. Hope you're settled soon. Read this on the bus and kept thinking about it all day.

        • Praying for you, Ruth. Shared this with my family. We had a similar scare last year, I know what it feels like

          • sending strength. Your post was clear and honest. I hope November is when things finally get easier. Thinking of Bakersfield.

            • wishing you peace, Ruth. This could happen to any of us

              • Sending good thoughts, Ruth. Rent stress is the worst. Hope this helps. God bless.

                $1,935 raised of $3,900

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