Help get Devin to his new job in Maine!

Greetings!

I recently received and accepted an offer to return to full-time work as a copyeditor with the Bangor Daily News  in Maine, which is my first full-time work in over a year and my first journalism-based job since working for the Boston Herald in 2017.

This is both an exciting and somewhat scary opportunity for me, as it allows me to get back into the career I've worked so hard to keep going, and also allows me to go back to New England again after my first attempt in 2016 went less than stellar...to put it mildly.

Unfortunately, since I've had to get by on low-paying part-time and freelance work to make ends meet, I'm in a position where, as much as I wish I didn't have to, I once again need to ask for help in order to make this new transition work.

So I am asking for help to cover the costs of both relocating from my current location in Cleveland, Ohio, where I've been residing in the basement of two unbelievably kind and generous friends' house for about 18 months... to Bangor, Maine and getting set up with an apartment so I can get back to work taking care of myself as soon as possible.

What's the money going to be used for?

A good and logical question. Any and all money donated will go to the following:

- Moving expenses (i.e. uHaul trailer rental for my stuff, gas, overnight hotel stay, tolls, incidentals, etc.)

According to uHaul's website, the trailer I'd need to move my stuff out of storage with is about $300, and with the trip covering about 900 miles (depending on the route I take) that's going to be about four tanks of gas for my Jeep, which could be up to $200 total, depending on current prices.

The trip will take about 13-14 hours, so I'll also need one overnight stay somewhere along the route at the most affordable motel I can find (Motel 6, Super 8, etc.)

- Short-term housing, then down payment on a permanent apartment

This is going to be the trickiest part of the transition, as I'll be needing a short-term place to camp out (either an AirBnB or other cheap rental space) until I can lockdown an apartment in the area. There's no shortage of choice in Bangor, and some are within my budget, but as is the case just about everywhere, getting an apartment requires at least first month's rent AND the security deposit.

That means for a $650/month apartment (which is about what I'm looking for in my budget and there are spaces available in Bangor for around that price) I would need potentially $1,300 up front, to cover it.

Funds from this campaign would go towards that, and would also be offset by the first paycheck I'd receive once I started with the Daily News.

- A bed to sleep on, chairs to sit on and places for my stuff.

Since relocating from the Pacific Northwest in late 2016, the majority of my worldly possessions have been in boxes in various storage lockups throughout New England and Ohio.

This will be a chance to get them out, hopefully, once and for all. 

But I'll also need to get a bed and basic furniture like a couch, computer desk, bookshelves, etc.

I'm good as far as kitchen and other essentials go, but this would help me have something comfortable to sleep on after work, and camp out on during my days off.

Obviously, I'd be looking for the best deals possible as I'm a frugal guy by nature, but depending on total costs, it could be anywhere up to $500-$1,000, when all's said and done.

SO, adding it all up, I'm estimating this relocation could come to as much as $2,800-$3,000 to pull off.

I know that's a lot of money and I know I'm asking a lot at a time where tens of thousands of people are dealing with far worse circumstances than I am for far worse reasons.

What this would do is help me make the smoothest transition from Ohio to Maine possible, so I can get to work and get back on my feet as soon as possible.

The job at the Daily News brings with it both a salary AND benefits that I could use in a variety of ways, including helping take care of my eight-year-old son, Daniel, whom I have to be able to insure as well.

Anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated, and your name would go on my list of those I'd either look to pay back as soon as I am able, or if you'd like me to pay it forward instead, I'd be honored to do that as well.

Thank you for your time, consideration and assistance.

Cheers!