My name is Anita, and I recently relocated from Virginia to Calabash, North Carolina, hoping for a fresh start after my life fell apart. In September 2025, I was evicted and spent months living in hotels with my cat, Jasper. Around the holidays, I became deeply depressed, realizing how much I had lost. In August 2023, I started working at DuPont after leaving my previous job at Sabra. I worked in the Kevlar division, in a building nearly 100 years old. Around Thanksgiving, I began experiencing serious health issues but kept working, thinking it was just the flu or Covid. Despite testing negative, I pushed myself to keep going, spending my days off in bed just to recover enough to work.

By January 2024, my health had declined so much that I could barely breathe after simple tasks. My doctor put me on short-term disability, and I began seeing specialist after specialist as my condition worsened. Eventually, a pulmonary specialist diagnosed me with lung scarring and limited breathing capacity, likely caused by sick building syndrome at work. He prescribed medication, which helped, but my breathing will never be normal again. When my short-term disability ended, I chose to return to work, believing in working for a living. I was welcomed back but was terminated after two days for being out for five months. Losing my job meant losing my insurance, and I could no longer afford my medication. My breathing improved once I was out of the building, but I can never work in manufacturing again.

I burned through my savings and 401k just trying to survive. I started doing Instacart shopping, which allowed me to work at my own pace, but I fell behind on rent. My landlord promised to work with me but later served me an eviction notice. In September 2025, I was evicted. After a difficult holiday season, I decided to move to the Myrtle Beach area for a fresh start. In May, I finally secured a 55+ apartment and felt hopeful for the first time in a long while. But on May 22nd, I was in a car accident and my car was totaled. Now, I have no transportation, no way to earn money, and I’m facing homelessness in two weeks. Calabash is a small town with few job opportunities within walking distance, and I’m out of options.

I am trying to raise enough money to pay my rent for June, buy groceries, and hopefully get a used car so I can find work and keep a roof over my head. If I can cover rent and basic needs for another month, I’ll have a chance to get back on my feet. I truly don’t know how much more I can take, but I’m grateful for any support you can give. Please consider sharing my story. Thank you, Anita.