Navigating Unemployment: GoFundMe Campaigns, Friend Loans, and the Struggle to Stay Afloat
Facing prolonged unemployment, Michele Wilke, a 63-year-old job seeker in Chicago, turned to unconventional methods like launching a GoFundMe campaign and borrowing money from friends to cover essential expenses. This personal account highlights the financial challenges many face during extended job searches, even with extensive experience.
The Long Road to Re-Employment
Since 2020, Michele Wilke experienced periods of unemployment and underemployment. After her most recent role ended in December 2024, she applied to numerous positions in her areas of expertise: HR, restaurant management, event and catering sales, and administrative work. Despite her efforts, securing a new job proved difficult.
As her search continued, Wilke broadened her scope to include roles like dog walking, house cleaning, and delivery driving. She even went door-to-door distributing résumés. While she secured interviews, concerns about being overqualified often arose, despite her willingness to accept the work for a steady paycheck.
To improve her chances, she refined her résumé, including reasons for leaving previous positions and highlighting the revenue of her former employers. While this strategy landed interviews, it didn't guarantee employment. Her approach shifted from tailored applications to a wider net, yet the results remained elusive.
Financial Lifelines: GoFundMe and Friends
Recognizing the severity of her financial situation, Michele Wilke launched a GoFundMe campaign in July, titled "Help Michele stay housed after job loss," which raised nearly $3,000. Inspired by a friend's success with a similar campaign, she sought support to cover her rent. In addition to the GoFundMe, generous friends provided loans, allowing her to pay them back when she could.
One friend offered a work-trade arrangement, where Wilke provides cat-sitting, cooking, and cleaning services in exchange for financial assistance. The funds from these sources have covered essential expenses like food, rent, gas, dental care, car maintenance, and public transportation. Despite this support, Wilke has accumulated over $20,000 in personal debt, in addition to existing credit card and bank loan debt exceeding $20,000.
To conserve money, Wilke shops at Aldi, cooks at home, avoids non-essential purchases, minimizes car use, reduces air conditioning, and forgoes travel. She described her regular visits to nearby Lake Michigan as her closest thing to a vacation.
A Glimmer of Hope: A New Job and a Fresh Start
After months of searching, Michele Wilke received a job offer for a catering sales manager role after applying on Indeed. She hopes it doesn't fall through. She believes this position aligns with her experience and prepares her to take on the challenge. Her immediate goal is to repay her accumulated debt and begin anew.
Mankato News Briefs: Fraternity Fire and Other Headlines
Moving away from Michele Wilke's story and briefly looking at recent news from Mankato, Minnesota: A fraternity house at 227 Lincoln Street, identified in an online fundraiser as the Phi Kappa Psi - Minnesota Gamma chapter house, sustained approximately $50,000 in damages in a suspected arson incident. Thankfully, all occupants escaped without injury. Authorities have arrested a suspect based on surveillance footage. Additionally, there are reports of Democrats retaining Rep. Melissa Hortman’s seat in a special election.
Separately, in late November, a tragic fire in Mankato’s Lincoln Park neighborhood resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to their mother, Deanna Lenzen, who is reportedly recovering. An online fundraiser supports the family.
