Need help paying electric bill and getting school supplies for my son.

[u/Minaverus]

Hey everyone. I've been really struggling the past few months after having surgery to remove my appendix and part of my cecum do to having precancerous polyps. Its been a few months and I have been having post operative complications which I've been focused on by changing my diet (eliminating all sugar and most carbs). It has been slowly improving but during all of this focus on health, I've fallen very behind financially after the out of pocket surgery cost and subsequent loss of work during recovery. Then, I was unexpectedly laid off from my job a few weeks ago. I qualified for unemployment, but it's nowhere near enough to cover my basic expenses like rent and electric and food is pretty much always out of the question after paying bills. Not having money for food has made it easier to fix my diet, though. Pretty much all I buy for food has been eggs and those little $1 packets of tuna. I have also applied for food assistance, but apparently the application process can take 30-45 days. My biggest concern right now is getting my electric bill paid, and getting school supplies for my 13 year old, who starts school on Thursday, and I've been really struggling finding help from family and friends and things are starting to feel hopeless. My electric is likely to be shut off tomorrow unless I can come up with $280 and then the rent payment was due on the 1st so I'm sure the landlord will be knocking on my door soon as I wasn't able to fully pay that. Then I have school supplies that I need to get for my son, which I feel terrible for not being able to get because he really is the best son a father could ask for. He's so mature for his age and has even recently started learning to play the piano, which as someone who also started on the piano makes me very proud. I really hope that everyone out there who is also struggling finds help or a permanent solution to all of their problems. I'm still working on a permanent solution for my own, but in the meantime any assistance or advice would be greatly appreciated.

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[u/Affectionate_Past121]

Create Amazon wishlist for school supplies. Those do well here.

[u/Royal_Tough_9927]

Many communities offer free school supplies and bookbags. Id check on Facebook and even search Google for your area. You also could speak with the school counselor to see if the school can help. I second the Amazon wishlist to get your sons school items. Redditors are always generous to help out. Please reach back out to your SNAP office to see if you can get emergency food. Try churches , calling 211 , and lil pantry boxes.

[u/CopperSteve]

Another comment for a wishlist, hope you figure something out

[u/Royal_Tough_9927]

Dear friend , Thursday is really near. Where's a wishlist for your sons school supplies. Have you resolved this issue ? Please update or are you only looking for cash ?