SALT LAKE CITY — There are many Utahns out of work waiting for their unemployment benefits to kick in.
Meredith Clark is one of them.
She never imagined she would be in this dire situation. Up until two weeks ago, Clark taught group fitness classes at a Salt Lake City gym that is now closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 30-year old also did personal training on the side to supplement her income, while raising her 3-year old daughter Ruby.
She chose her profession because it gave her job security, but in this climate, she’s facing a new reality.
She’s out of work, and since she doesn’t know when her circumstances will change, she reluctantly had to file for unemployment.
"That’s when everything really kind of hit me," Clark said. "I’m filing for unemployment. I don’t have a job. I have a three-year-old to provide for and I have nothing to do. That’s when everything kind of hit me. I really struggled."
She knows a lot of people are facing the same fears, and that gives her some comfort.
Clarks says she's trying to keep her spirits up through all of this.
Friends have really stepped up -- dropping off groceries, checking up on her and even offering to pay her rent.
