“My God, are you sure? You don’t even know me. How could I ever thank you? We are focused on finding work. My husband offers twenty years of experience in his work history as an Administrative Assistant. I never thought it would ever be this hard to find a job. Even $8 hour duties we would take—but nothing, there is nothing. We have sent out 500 resumes in two weeks and only one phone interview. Here is my address (address followed). I wish I could share this story on how Obama women come together. Thank you ever so much from my family’s heart and soul.”
I penned a check for $150 and mailed it. Before I returned from the mailbox she had written more, gushing forth in her fear that the electric company might actually cut the power any minute. Here, in her own words, is the beginning of Debbie’s story:
“I love Senator Obama and right now he is my strength. I live in Bradenton, FL. My husband was laid off in January. He worked at a major hospital; we moved here from California and he gave up his twenty years working for the state (of California) to come here for this job and for me so I could be near my daughter.
I am currently raising two kids, one disabled. I was laid off last April and could not sign up for unemployment because I didn’t have enough paid in. My (current and second) husband gets $275 a week that is the maximum benefit they will pay. I get a $900 a month Social Security survivor benefit since the death of my first husband. So our total income right now is $2,000 a month. Our rent is $1,400 and now that we have been late for the past few months my credit is shot to heck. We don’t have the money to move, although I will live in a smaller place or apartment if I could get one in case we are evicted from here. They tell me we can’t get food stamps, that we make too much. What a joke. Had it not been for the Democrats my husband’s benefits would be gone by now; thank God for that.
