After losing her apartment and all possessions in the Cabbagetown loft fire in April 1999, Atlanta resident and comedian Arma Benoit was left to the mercy of friends and neighbors to help rebuild her life.
Some provided her with meals and clothing. Others had couches and blankets to sleep on. But after two weeks, while still nowhere close to being able to stand on her feet, she felt as though she had already used up a majority of her resources.
“Everybody feels like, ‘Hey, I’ve already helped. I’ve already given. I’ve already done all these things,’ and you feel like a burden to continue to ask,” she said.
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