Re: Chicago Illinois Assistance
Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 5:22 am
Hello, my name is Latonia Gillespie I'm in Chicago Illinois. I am now a single mother of a 19-year-old that wants nothing more than to continue his college academics. Here's my story. Things were going well; I had a full-time job. Saving money, I had my son in the best Charter grade school. Then he had him in the best Charter HS. I kept him in summer, afterschool programs to keep him busy. He had a love of basketball he played during all his years in school. But I instilled in him his academics were most important. His 8th grade year, my mother became very sick. She had appointments after another, and my family seemed to have backed away. Nobody but myself and my sister who is on disability cared for my mother. I had to take her to every doctor’s appointment and during that time my son’s years in school with his academics had started to fail. I wasn’t supporting him like I should have because I was so busy with my mother.
I had called off so much that I lost my job as a full-time supervisor of 19 years. I had to find a part time job to care for my mom. In that time my son starts to grow he barely graduated 8th grade with the grace of God he made it. I got him in HS, and that's when things got worse for us all. My mother had gotten worse, my son’s transition to HS was terrifying and he was beginning to fail. I couldn’t keep up with my bills my sister was getting sick from time to time and no other family members stepped up. I thought I would lose my mind, I wanted to support my son, but I wanted to care for my mother. I only had a part time job. I wasn’t making much. I filed for food stamps I got very little, but I thank God every day for what I was getting.
They cut me now to only $19 a month. My son continues to play basketball because the coach had him under his wing. It was a tough HS charter school. Rules were enforced, structured and firm. He didn't do so well but I had to leave him there, I didn’t want him to end up on the streets. Finally, another coach a public school saw his talent and begged me to him transfer to his school. I did, and he wasn’t approved to play basketball for the school. My son got depressed he failed in all classes, I contacted the coach from former school, and he did whatever he had to do to get him back over there. He finally graduated and I was very proud. Though during these trying times his child support was covering most of the bills. He didn’t receive many scholarships none for academics but he was awarded about 2,000.00 that went towards his tuition.
He will not be able to continue college because I just can’t afford it. He worked this summer to help pay his tuition and he still has an unpaid balance. He is trying to transfer to a community college it may be cheaper but we can’t afford to pay the unpaid balance off. My truck needs so much repairs on it. I can’t drive it far; it needs so much work and tires. It's hard to get my mother’s prescriptions and other supplies she needs. My son is working to help me with these outstanding bills. I tried to have most of my bills consolidated I had to stop paying that I just can’t make ends meet. I finally became my mother’s caregiver which pays 380 every 2 weeks. I'm not complaining but it’s not enough to get things paid nor send my son back to college. I picked up another job in the mornings which is only 2 hrs. a day but its 45 minutes away and without a vehicle that will be impossible. A bus ride will be more time than the actual time I spend at the job. And the job only operates on Chicago Public School schedule.
I am in need of any help. I need my truck fix, bills paid, and help with my son getting back into college he wants to be a chiropractor. My mother is still bed sicken and can’t be left along, and my sister and I are doing all we can helping her but she has her own family and health issues and is very overwhelmed. If you can assist me in any way with grants or any information I would truly appreciate it. Thank you so much and God bless you.
I had called off so much that I lost my job as a full-time supervisor of 19 years. I had to find a part time job to care for my mom. In that time my son starts to grow he barely graduated 8th grade with the grace of God he made it. I got him in HS, and that's when things got worse for us all. My mother had gotten worse, my son’s transition to HS was terrifying and he was beginning to fail. I couldn’t keep up with my bills my sister was getting sick from time to time and no other family members stepped up. I thought I would lose my mind, I wanted to support my son, but I wanted to care for my mother. I only had a part time job. I wasn’t making much. I filed for food stamps I got very little, but I thank God every day for what I was getting.
They cut me now to only $19 a month. My son continues to play basketball because the coach had him under his wing. It was a tough HS charter school. Rules were enforced, structured and firm. He didn't do so well but I had to leave him there, I didn’t want him to end up on the streets. Finally, another coach a public school saw his talent and begged me to him transfer to his school. I did, and he wasn’t approved to play basketball for the school. My son got depressed he failed in all classes, I contacted the coach from former school, and he did whatever he had to do to get him back over there. He finally graduated and I was very proud. Though during these trying times his child support was covering most of the bills. He didn’t receive many scholarships none for academics but he was awarded about 2,000.00 that went towards his tuition.
He will not be able to continue college because I just can’t afford it. He worked this summer to help pay his tuition and he still has an unpaid balance. He is trying to transfer to a community college it may be cheaper but we can’t afford to pay the unpaid balance off. My truck needs so much repairs on it. I can’t drive it far; it needs so much work and tires. It's hard to get my mother’s prescriptions and other supplies she needs. My son is working to help me with these outstanding bills. I tried to have most of my bills consolidated I had to stop paying that I just can’t make ends meet. I finally became my mother’s caregiver which pays 380 every 2 weeks. I'm not complaining but it’s not enough to get things paid nor send my son back to college. I picked up another job in the mornings which is only 2 hrs. a day but its 45 minutes away and without a vehicle that will be impossible. A bus ride will be more time than the actual time I spend at the job. And the job only operates on Chicago Public School schedule.
I am in need of any help. I need my truck fix, bills paid, and help with my son getting back into college he wants to be a chiropractor. My mother is still bed sicken and can’t be left along, and my sister and I are doing all we can helping her but she has her own family and health issues and is very overwhelmed. If you can assist me in any way with grants or any information I would truly appreciate it. Thank you so much and God bless you.
