I have had several unexpected expenses come up all at once, including three major repairs on the only vehicle we own, which still needs brakes replaced (I'm scraping metal with every stop) and a pair of serious medical crises that have drained my savings, completely. I have fallen behind in all of my utilities to the point that I face shut-offs of my electric and gas. If you have been in a fix like this, before, and understands what I'm going through, could you help me out? I don't drink, smoke, do drugs, and especially don't gamble, so I can't blame my crisis on such habits. I have just been thrown so far behind the eight ball I don't know how I can get back without some help. Please reply if you can find it in your heart to throw me a line, and thank you, very much!

Stan

I'm sorry that you are having to go through this. I'm sure it is very rough on you and your family. The economy is just terrible right now and we can only hope it begins to get better soon.

With that said, we are all ordinary people here who live ordinary lives. Many of us are experiencing the same, or close, to what you are experiencing. Have you tried the Salvation Army? St. Vincent DePaul Society?

I have been where you are when I was going through cancer. I know how hard it is to play catch up. It never seems to get any better, but it does.

Thank you for your reply, and I know what you have gone through. Yes, I did go to the Salvation Army and St. Vincent De Paul Society, already, as well as to my own church. They all helped me out, once over the winter for support for my utilities, but their policies only allow for one-time assistance, so I can't go back to them. I only know that if I can get back to current status on my utlilities, right now, I will be able to stay on track from this point, on. I just don't have the money to do that, right now. I do have a job, but I can't pay three months' worth of these utilities costs all at once, and the wolves are at my door.

Stan

Stan, I completely understand the feeling of the wolves being at your door. I used to be afraid to answer that door myself.

However, we are not a charity here, nor can most of us afford anything more than putting food on our table, much less helping someone that we don't know.

I don't know where you live. But many states here in the US have a system where you dial 211 on your phone and there is a live person who you can talk to who can point you in the right direction according to your needs.

I hope someone else has some other ideas for you.