Welcome to the weekly edition of Helping Humpday, dedicated to Kossacks helping one another. HHday resides at Street Prophets Coffee Hour, the intersection where politics and religion and ethical values conveniently meet and sometime collide.
Humpday — because we’re smack dab in the middle of the work week and getting over that hump sure looks sweet. But for some folks in this community, the humps they need to get over are far more daunting than looking forward to the weekend. That is where Helping comes in. Helping Humpday is specifically about generating support for struggling Kossacks who find themselves facing an imminent financial emergency like keeping the lights on, avoiding eviction, getting to work. Our goal is to publicize the Community Needs List as widely across the site as possible. Our motto is simple: many hands make light work. But we need all hands on deck to make this successful. We invite you all to join us — consider making a donation today.
Long-time DKOS member (ten years!) Libraryguy and his wife need a little help starting over. Their story is perfect for Rosh Hashanah and also exactly what the Community Needs List is all about — providing a short-term financial assist with an imminent need while helping folks move to self sufficiency.
After creating a small store-front shop in their home in Woodstock, NY, and building their business, Tom and Rhea lost their lease. They found another place to rent, but didn’t have permission to turn their tiny porch into a shop at the new location. It’s been a struggle to keep the business and their family afloat just with mail-orders and part time jobs. After almost a year, they are opening their porch-front store again — but to do so the landlord is requiring a huge deposit. They also need help to build up their depleted stock. Tourist season is around the corner in upstate New York, and they have a real chance to make this a success. They need to raise at least $2000 by October 1st to give their landlord part of what he demands. Sales also help the cause. Their stock of homemade and cruelty-free goods reflect their progressive values. Early holiday shopping anyone?
Today’s Musing: Have a Good Sweet Year
Rosh Hashanah — a time for ringing in a new year, a time for joy, a time for taking stock. This year the high holy day began at sundown this past Sunday and ended yesterday at sundown. The traditional greeting is Shanah tovah” (שנה טובה), which means “Good year.” “U’metuka” (ומתוקה), “and sweet,” is sometimes added. The hope for a good and sweet year is a lovely sentiment, especially here at Helping Humpday, where some Kossacks on the Needs List are looking forward to “sweeter” times indeed. Sharing honeycake, eating apples, and dipping bread in honey all symbolize these sweet wishes offered to family, friends, and community.
Rosh Hashanah is a festive holiday to be sure, but it is also a holy day. In fact, it is one of the holiest days of the Jewish calendar. And a very important aspect of the season is repentance. An old tradition is to walk to a place of flowing water and throw in bits of bread or stones, to symbolize “casting off” one’s sins. Emptying one’s pockets symbolizes a fresh start. Jewish scripture actually calls the holiday “the day of remembrance.” It is a time of introspection, where one looks back at past mistakes and resolves to do better. Emphasis is on making amends where that is due, but it is also a time to assess one’s flaws and make resolutions to be kinder or more charitable or less wasteful.
It’s been a busy week in Lake Woebegone upstate South Carolina, what with some hurricane preparations (even though we won’t see the brunt of the storm). So I haven’t had much time to write a creative essay on how Jewish New Year is celebrated. But happily, this past Sunday afternoon, BFSkinner posted this delightful and informative video as part of his “Happy New Year” diary. I can’t improve on actress Mayim Bialik’s entertaining and informative take on what Jewish folks do to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. So grab a slice of the traditional honey cake and enjoy!
Full Community Needs List
Community needs list as of 9/12/18. Please kosmail any updates, corrections or additions to njm5000.
Housing Fundraisers
JTG—Current total need for September is $1300 1180 965835745 425 including living expenses, transportation to work, and the $300 fee for the Multi-subject California Subject Examinations for Teachers” aka “CSET”. GoFundMe, PayPal (James at JamesThomasGreen dot com) Diary with other ways to help via amazon wishlist and Patreon www.dailykos.com/...
Medical Fundraisers
BIGJACBIGJACBIGJAC — He was recently switched from working full-time at Walmart to part-time and has medical insurance through the ACA. A necessary but unexpected car repair tipped the scales and left him in debt. He is looking to pay off $800 715 665 645 of debt from car repairs and unexpected expenses. His diary DK Preppers: Special Editionhas more details on his situation and what he hopes to do in the near future. GoFundMe is here; PayPal is big dot jac at live dotcom. Kosmail him for other payment methods.
RICKNELSONMN — He had a partial knee replacement last year but unexpected complications require total knee replacement urgently.Needs $2,000 1,300 1270 12501230 to cover expenses and bills while recuperating after surgery. (GoFundMe, diaryexplaining his situation)
TULSAGAL — She had been taking care of her mom who had stage 1 dementia, until it abruptly transitioned to stage 2 dementia at which point she had to place her mom in a nursing home. During this time, she had an arthritis flare and also fell behind on bills, in addition to having several items (including her work computer, car and house) damaged or destroyed by her mom. She needs help to get current on her most urgent needs which are: mom's nursing service bills which are not covered by insurance ($985 615), utility bills ($855 655) and her own medical bills ($628.36 599.51). PayPal is mansker at coxdot net
Good News
Jan4insight’s need is now down to $0. Yep — ZERO. A very generous donor has come through (again) with essential help. Thanks to this hero, and to all our generous donors, and also to everyone who buys something from one of jan’s online shops. You can still shop for early Christmas presents, or just something for fall. This is how artist and craftswoman jan makes her living, so purchases help her become self sufficient and stay off the Needs List.
Need Help Yourself?
Need help? Check out the Helping Directories
Let’s Take Stock: Just pick one person and donate!
Our needs list has been shrinking, and we appreciate it! Like the message of Rosh Hashanah, like Tom and Rhea at their little shop, perhaps this is a good time for each of us to pause a moment and take stock? If it is in your means, please consider sending a small amount to someone on the list. Even $5 is a lot. Just pick one person and do it! You will feel great and they will be so grateful. : )
Please share this diary to as many groups as you think is appropriate. There are more ways to help and other musings below the fold. Thanks!
Here are more ways to help...
It’s open all year round! Every purchase supports a Kossack, and you get to stay out of those crowded malls. Purchasing from these vendors and artisans helps folks remain self sufficient and financially independent. Plus these folks are just plain good at what they do.
SOCIAL MEDIA — Help Spread the Word
Help us get the word out! If helping financially isn’t the right option for you — or you want to do more — then be the link between need and fulfillment. If you are active on Social Media, go to the linked fund-raising pages on the Needs List and use the social media icons on the page to share it throughout your contacts on Facebook, Twitter, whatever platform you use. If you are active on DKOS, and it is appropriate for your members, republish this diary to your groups and tip, comment, rec so it stays on the sidebar as long as possible.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
What’s the philosophy behind the Community Needs List? I will let bfitzinAR, the original founder of HHday, speak for us:
Kossacks taking care of our own — helping by sharing/donating money or needed items, helping by sharing both donation site links and artisan/vendor site links and purchasing gifts for self or others via those links, helping by sharing knowledge and informational links, or helping by just sharing a hug or a cup of coffee as appropriate — is what community is all about.
We are community — clan, tribe, company, village, culture, and state. Community survives beyond the life of any single member and thrives by supporting and strengthening the life of each individual member — by helping each other, by sharing — all together.
Until such time as we get the government that we want and deserve, when there will be no need for fundraisers, there will always be some Kossacks who need the help and compassion of this kind, friendly, and generous community. That’s why HHday resides at Street Prophets Coffee Hour, the intersection where politics and religion and ethical values conveniently meet and sometime collide. Here at HHday we may highlight a particular Kossack’s story, share links to appeal diaries, share links to support services or other informational sites, spread the word, offer a shoulder to lean on.
It really does take a Village, so thanks to the entire Community Links and List Team, and of course to all our generous donors and helpers.
This is an open thread, so all topics welcome. Be kind to one another (I know you will be because that’s just the kind of folks you are), we’re all in this together. The blog is now open.