Support Donna's Fight Against Homelessness

Hello everyone,

My name is Donna Fontenot, and I'm reaching out to the wonderful communities I've been a part of for over 20 years—the SEO, WordPress, and Elementor families. Over the past year, life has hit me hard. I lost my job as a Managing Editor at Automattic / WordPress.com, and since then, I've struggled to stay afloat financially. I've declared bankruptcy and have been surviving on a small fixed income from Social Security, supplemented by freelance gigs in designing WordPress sites, writing, and content auditing.

During this difficult time, I've moved 10 times, essentially couch-surfing to get by. Recently, I moved in with my dearest friend after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a bilateral mastectomy and two additional surgeries due to serious complications. As her caretaker, I've witnessed how medical expenses have depleted her finances, bringing her home to the brink of foreclosure. Without intervention, we will both face homelessness within two weeks.

This year has tested my resilience. Severe depression tried to wear me down, yet I've managed to hold on. The looming threat of homelessness is now overwhelming. I don't have much left—just a shaky old car that barely gets me around town—but I can't bear the thought of losing a roof over our heads. I fear not only for my own sanity, but also for the health consequences if my friend has to deal with homelessness on top of her cancer fight.

I'm urgently seeking funds to prevent this pending homelessness. Although I've secured some freelance work, it's not enough, and time is running out. Reluctantly, and with a humbled spirit, I'm asking for your help.

I understand that it's holiday season, a time when finances are tight for everyone. Yet, I'm hopeful that the connections I've made over the years can come together. Anything you can spare, even a few dollars, would mean the world to me and help me avoid this impending crisis.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for considering this plea.

With gratitude,

Donna Fontenot (previously Donna Cavalier and also known as DazzlinDonna back in the SEO days)