What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944)
UPDATE 3: The car air conditioning goal has been met. A mere $121 more would cover the rest of the seriously needed car repairs. We can do it with your help!
Yes, the generous folks here have raised over $600 for zoom today, that is double what we needed for the car ac. Now, despite his asthma and possible emphysema, zoom314 will be able to safely drive in his rural desert neighborhood. However, the car is old — 1999 Ford Escort — and has some other issues. $121 more, added to what has been raised, would cover these essential repairs (including brake work). Kossacks coming to the diary late in the day still have time to make a big impact on zoom’s health and safety.
To donate click his Paypal link: paypal.me/zoom314
UPDATE 2: The small matching fund challenge has been met!
Waiting for an official update from zoom, but the match has definitely been met — and exceeded. The final figure isn’t quite in, but has pushed us close to the $300 mark. That would be a great goal because labor costs could rise and we need a little cushion. THANKS TO ALL WHO DONATED. : )
NOW KEEP IT UP: In addition to the vital air conditioning repair, which really is a health issue for zoom, there are other car repairs needed, at least another $250 dollars or so. So let’s keep building his car repair fund.
UPDATE: There is a $50 Matching Fund Challenge Just Offered.
We have raised $105 for zoom in this first hour. We need to do better. So a new $50 matching fund challenge is now on offer. Double the impact of your gift and bring zoom close to reaching his modest goal.
(Details on the fundraiser are below the welcoming statement)
Welcome to the weekly edition of Helping Humpday, dedicated to Kossacks helping one another.
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. 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 to someone on the List TODAY.
This is an open thread and part of the daily Street Prophets Coffee Hour.
When the heat has you really really beat...
Today’s Musing is an Emergency Appeal for Zoom314:
His handle is “zoom” but he hasn’t been zipping around much lately. At least not in comfort. Zoom314 has been driving without air conditioning — all summer long, in the searing heat of the California desert. It is not just stifling, it is dangerous. Now, the need to get the ac working in his 1999 Ford Escort has reached the level of a health emergency. Zoom already suffers from asthma and he has struggled with breathing issues for years. Now, his doctor suspects emphysema (despite the fact that zoom has never smoked). They are awaiting the results of a recent lung scan. Air conditioning is no longer a luxury for zoom.
To donate click his Paypal link: paypal.me/zoom314
Did I mention he lives in a desert?
Zoom314 lives in a mobile home park in the Mojave Desert in Southern California. Daytime temperatures are 105. Summer isn’t nearly done in the desert and high temperatures are expected to continue well into October.
Zoom survives on a small disability income. He is 58 years old, with multiple health issues including stiff back syndrome, joint problems, osteoarthritis. He has been diagnosed with severe anxiety and suffers from concentration problems, some tunnel vision, and depression. It is a lot to cope with, but he manages. He is frugal and is able to just meet his monthly expenses for himself and his cat Grace. Some months there is a tiny bit to put towards home repairs. But when larger unanticipated expenses arise, his fragile financial house of cards begins to fall.
“I can’t do anything if I don’t have my car”
Despite his health and mobility issues, zoom is politically engaged and also reaches out to his neighbors. Zoom has been driving daily in the sweltering heat to help a friend take care of nine dogs for an elderly couple with mobility issues. The wife broke her foot from a five foot fall, and zoom knows from experience (having had screws put into two broken bones) that if the bone doesn’t heal properly it will likely mean surgery for her. He also delivers crushed ice daily for the evaporative cooler of these senior citizens. This requires driving into the desert and up a dirt drive. With no air conditioning in the car. Zoom “earns” a little extra gas money, but the suffocating heat is taking its toll on his body and his psyche.
Zoom314 has purchased the essential air conditioning parts, and his mechanic is willing to work with him. Labor costs are estimated at $270, of which zoom has about $50 in hand. If we can raise $250 to 300 this afternoon, it will give him a cushion to have this repair done correctly.
To donate click his Paypal link: paypal.me/zoom314
Will You be the life-saving well in zoom’s desert today?
With your help, zoom can literally breathe a little easier. This community is kind and good and generous, and yes, zoom has received some help in the past. Dare we ask for more? Can you find the kindness to make a gift to someone, simply because they have a serious need and had the courage to ask for help? Thanks!
And if not for zoom, then just pick one person and help!
All the folks on the Needs List are struggling, and most have been for some time now. The Needs List Team, with your essential help, has been chipping away at each emergency. An investment in the lives of a struggling Kossack today will help them over their current hump and eventually help most become more self-sufficient. If it is in your means, please consider sending a small amount to someone on the list. Just pick one person and do it! You will feel great and they will be so grateful. : )
Please rec, tip, and post this diary to as many groups as you think is appropriate. There are more ways to help and other musings below the fold. Thanks!
FULL COMMUNITY NEEDS LIST
Community needs list as of 8/15/18. Please kosmail any updates, corrections or additions to basket.
Medical Fundraisers
MORGANSMOM - her cat Moe has been to the vet a few times and needs special prescription food, which she's put on her credit cards but worries she may not have enough to pay for Moe's final journey.She is looking for $306.14 246.14 to pay off these bills. PayPal is wingednag at gmail dot com (Pamela Becker)
RICKNELSONMN — He had a partial knee replacement last year but unexpected complications require total knee replacement urgently.Needs $2,000 1,440 to cover expenses and bills while recuperating after surgery. (GoFundMe, diary explaining his situation)
BIGJACBIGJACBIGJAC — He was recently switched from working full-time at Walmart to part-time and has medical insurance through the ACA. With premiums forecast to go up next year, he and his wife are already living on the edge and barely making ends meet. A necessary but unexpected car repair tipped the scales and left him in debt. Both he and his wife also need dental work, and if they use their existing funds to meet the co-pay they will not have enough funds for additional medical appointments which are required for each of them monthly. He is looking to raise $2,000 for dental co-pay ($1,000 each for him and his wife) for a total of $2,000. GoFundMe ishere; kosmail him for other payment methods.
MSSPENTYOUTH — She wants to be out there registering new voters and phonebanking for candidates who hope to be part of the #BlueWave this November, among other activities. Unfortunately, she was just discharged from hospital with diabetes complications caused by a tumor in her pituitary gland. She is on SSDI and needs help with diabetic supplies, food appropriate for a diabetic diet, and medicines that are not covered by Medicare. Her most urgent needs are $500 for six months of asthma medications (two types of inhalers and liquid solution for nebulizer) and $400 for three months of insulin (two types). She needs $7,000 2,273 in total (YouCaring(inactive), diary explaining her situation: Not Ready to Give Up. Will you help fight a truculent tumor?) PayPal is kim dotyaman at gmail dot com
Housing Fundraisers
JTG — Tuesday’s fundraiser made great progress for August.
Summer means no scheduling for substitute teachers until mid-August and no paycheck until September. He need of $1,200 is now down to $116 for August utilities due by the 25th, ($850 585 for rent due by 15th, $100 for cat spaying/vaccines, $250 for replacing keyboard on laptop); purchases of cat and dog food from Amazon will also help. PayPal is james at jamesthomasgreen dot com (GoFundMe; kosmail for postal address or other options)
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 ($855655) and her own medical bills ($628.36 599.51). PayPal is mansker at cox dot net
MUFFTOOTUFF — She started a new job on March 1st after being unemployed for 11 months, but her job only pays about half of what she used to earn, and she is falling behind on rent and other bills despite supplementing her income with Social Security and efforts to obtain assistance from her county and other charitable organizations.She is looking to raise the following amounts for July: Rent ($850), car payments ($474), phones and other bills ($647 495) for a total of $1,819. PayPal is momeriwether at gmail dot com (PayPal.me link)
Transportation Fundraisers
ZOOM314 — He lives on a fixed income and needs some financial help to undertake various household and car repairs. He needs $889706 for the most urgent car repairs, which includes $270 for a/c repairs. Detailed breakdown of repairs is listed in his diary. Latest update diaries: Needed Car Repairs. PayPal.me link
Thanks, as always, to the behind-the-scenes team that manages the Community Needs List and promotes it across DKOS daily. And thanks to this generous community for helping fellow Kossacks in need.
This is an open thread. Proceed… Eat, Pray, Love, Chat, Donate...