A Change in the Air (Part Three): The Final Chapter

Life Beyond Lupus, Volume 1, Issue 10, November 2, 2025 A wrap-up with a list of resources and previous posts

Nov 03, 2025

So What Now?

Well, this three-part series “A Change in the Air” has finally come to an end! My favorite month of October has passed, and we are now in November.

Although the direction of this series didn’t go as I originally planned, I’m okay with it. As an advocate for social justice, I felt the need to address the current state of our country and compare and contrast it with our history.

I was compelled to ask, are we headed backwards or are we the people going to decide to learn from our history and go in a new direction?

Only time will tell, but most importantly, every single American has a say in the matter.

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”
Alice Walker

So what now? The government shutdown is still ongoing. Federal workers are without jobs or are still going into the office working without a paycheck. Those who receive SNAP benefits are having to go without food; healthcare premiums will be skyrocketing.

I have lots to say about this shutdown, but I am choosing to redirect my energy on finding and listing some resources that can be helpful to our fellow citizens who are being impacted.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by the government shutdown or just anyone who has fallen on hard times, I kindly request that you please share this post.

Resources

NOTE: Since this is a federal shutdown, I will be listing national organizations and resources instead of those that are state-specific. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but just a few websites to help point you in the right direction. These organizations will generally have somewhere to enter your zip code, and then you will be directed to the proper agency.

If you are in a position to donate, please do so. Every little bit helps, and these organizations will be oh-so appreciative!

Feeding America
https://www.feedingamerica.org/
Food Finder
https://foodfinder.us/
Food Boxes and Delivery
https://www.findhelp.org/
U.S. Hunger (for corporations and community partners)
https://ushunger.org/
211 and United Way
https://www.211.org/
https://www.unitedway.org/
Lupus Foundation of America
https://www.lupus.org/resources/financial-assistance
DON’T FORGET to reach out to organizations at your local level to get information on community and state-wide resources

Contact Congress

United States House of Representatives (call/email)
https://www.house.gov/
United States Senate (call/email)
https://www.senate.gov/
Congressional Switchboard
(202) 224-3121
5 Calls (offers scripts/prompts for constituents as they contact their legislators on top-priority policies and issues)
https://5calls.org/

It’s a Wrap!

Thank you so much for being a subscriber to Life Beyond Lupus! I appreciate each and every one of you, and THANK YOU for taking the time to read and support my writing. As always, feel free to share my posts and publication and encourage others to subscribe! It’s FREE!

Okay, my intention for November is to get back to lupus education and share more of my lupus story. If you or someone you know is living with lupus or chronic illness or invisible illness, please let them know about Life Beyond Lupus so they can become a FREE subscriber.

My hope is that you learned and discovered something new when reading “A Change in the Air.” Below are the links to the first two parts and the annotations for part two.