Community is people together helping each other survive. Once survival is more or less assured thriving is the next goal, but surviving is the Prime Directive. Every so often Fate throws us for a loop and we find ourselves back in the survival mode. Like now.
When survival issues kick in, there are usually two responses. There’s the “me” response of stock up, hunker down, spend as little as you can, and keep those “deadbeats who want my money” away from me, I must survive. There’s the “we” response of we’re all in this together, we pool our money, food, lodging and things with others’ time and skills, together we will survive. I have known both — and have never figured out what causes which reaction. I’ve known “me” people who’ve had so much they were never in personal danger and “me” people who’ve had so little they were always in danger. I’ve know “we” people who’ve had so much they didn’t even have to think of folks in trouble — they so seldom encountered them — and “we” people who only had a spare can of tomatoes to add to the spaghetti and make it stretch but shared it.
“We” people make up community — the family, tribe, company, village, the culture, and ultimately the state that survives beyond the life of any single member. “We” people insure survival of the community.
So we persist in helping those in need of it:
Aji — building a home to replace the one repossessed in the wake of the 2008 crash. Serious setback: Wiring originally installed incorrectly. Pulling it out and re-installing took funds meant for plumbing, plastering, and septic system. Also one of their horses died — the vet and burial expenses for Cree took the sales revenue that would have met March labor. Unfortunately to make up for that we’ll have to do another fundraiser when this one is reached. sigh. Immediate need Lowes gift cards (plumbing fixtures/flooring/appliances) www.amazon.com… as well as donations to pay for installation labor). Share wingssilverwork.com and www.youcaring.com… everywhere/daily please. Avilyn’s diary — A House of Healing — $1,000 match in progress and will wrap up this phase of the building. $1,650 including the committed matching funds to reach this goal.
Arabian — Has a (lower pay/no benefits) job and her foot seems to be healing by itself. She needs some help to catch up from the months of unemployment. PayPal is arabean at att dot net
BFSkinner — encouragement and medical bills ($13,975). Multiple/worsening health issues and Depression. BFSkinner profile page — find a recent diary and give him some moral support. Gofundme link: www.gofundme.com… PayPal is houstonbfskinner at netscape dot net.
bigjacbigjacbigjac — winter heating bills took mortgage, food, and utility money for the last two months. Wal-Mart cut his already part-time hours. Disabled family members contribute as they can but unless/until they actually get Disability it’s not enough. Estimate $2,000 to catch up mortgage and back utility bills, put gas in the van (transportation to work and food banks) and get some groceries. Will add funding address as soon as I get it.
Dem — Recovering from various fractured leg bones, suffering from Depression and PTSD (abusive relationship). Underemployed, iffy transportation. Abusive relationship ended in January — abuser swept the joint bank account AND overcharged the joint credit card. Needs help — food and Rx first, then utilities, etc. if you know of helping services in the San Antonio, TX area — or even just a supportive word to give, please kosmail him. PayPal robertallenproctor4 at gmail dot com.
jtg — (car now the priority) — the car has been sort of functional to get him to work and nothing else but the transmission is getting worse. Scheduled to go in for transmission replacement over Spring Break so he doesn’t lose any work. Need to get the remaining funds. Transmission is $4K (parts and labor) $2,770 to go. Widget www.gofundme.com/… • PayPal
jtg — (home) cancer survivor, late father’s caregiver for 15 years. Substitute teacher since mid-October. Made it through Feb. with addition of PayPal (not on widget) donations and some vendor sales. A little cushion for March would be good. www.gofundme.com/... • PAYPAL Kos Katalogue vendor (see links below) augmenting his substitute teaching with graphic art sales.
In memory of — Patriotic Daily News Clearinghouse (Lin) PDNC — Lin left us early 12/28/2016. Her last concern was that her sister Laura (Kossack gabriella) not be burdened with the medical bills she put on her own credit cards. Aji’s farewell: Where the Water Meets the Light and 2thanks memorial: In Memory of our friend and Avila’s Celebrating the Life of Linda McClure — Donation Widget has Lin’s story by Laura — Linda McClure $11,875 left to go.
Rock Creek Parker/Susan Hogarth — caregiver for late mother for years, bookseller in the Kos Katalogue to augment her $322 monthly SocSec. Currently in process of selling the house (new book orders on hold). Please help with sales-prep & utilities (Albuquerque, NM — need heat and light to show the house). Paypal is rockcreekparker at gmail dot com
slksfca — $4,000 goal was met but the vet bills have already used that up. New target is $5000 with $920 to go. PayPal slksfca at gmail dot com and Dixie's medical expenses
snoopydawg — Work injury — Workers Comp denied the claim for 5 years. Belated surgery failed, permanent damage, unable to work, chronic and acute pain. Social Security Disability augmented with photography sales (Kos Katalogue), fell behind on the mortgage, in the process of refinancing but needs help to catch up. [Companion animals needed help. Being the loving caring person she is, she asked for the dogs first.] YouCaring Charlie & Abby's vet bills (and the mortgage) Originally $2,500 (mortgage) + $500 (vet bills) = $3,000. Vet portion met, $1,000 to go on mortgage refinance.
teacherken — asking for support for his DK writing until he can get another teaching job (hoping for next fall) he “low-balled” the goal considering it’s only Feb. — www.gofundme.com/... ($1,325 to go)
michelewin’s friend Kay — Sacramento area, 70s, widow, homeless living with her cats in her truck, stuff in storage. She gave permission to give out phone number. 916.559.0908 2/24/17 Update: per michelewin: Kay has decided to move to CO to be where her son lives. The estimate is $7,000 to deal with truck, gas etc., and storage fees. — gofundme Kay Allen move to CO ($6,885 to go)
Then to see if meeting our needs and caprices can do double duty in bringing revenue to the small businesses of our Kossack community:
Physical expressions of love can lift the spirit — especially from folks you “know” like our Kossack artisans and vendors. Our dollar vote is heard even when our ballot vote isn’t so cast that dollar vote for Kossacks and other small business communities.
From Pootie Pads to wearable and frameable designs to jewelry to used/rare books to web design to decluttering services — gifts from the heart are easy to find in the Kos Katalogue.
KOSSACK ARTISANS/VENDORS — JUST SAY YES to KOS BUSINESSES
asterkitty — to assist with moving costs, special painting sale is here. Big discounts: alexalev.com…
edrie — jewelry — Edrie's Shop
elenacarlena —original cartoons to hang, wear, or drink from — www.zazzle.com… www.teepublic.com… or kosmail to commission a cartoon.
Sara R & Winglion — Pootie (cat) & Woozle (dog) Pads —
pootiepad.com…
snoopydawg — beautiful photography — 10% off sale www.midlifeartistsunlimited.org/… (Donations for mortgage refinance, see above.)
Wings — NDN Silver wingssilverwork.com , Aji’s & Wings’ sole income source. Hover on Galleries, then on Silverwork or Photography or Other Artists for click-links to see breathtaking work. Use Contact for email to commission or purchase. (Donations to help build house, see above.)
Update: Rock Creek Parker — book shop temporarily closed until house is sold. Back in business soon, we hope. (Donations for sale prep, see above.)
Departments of the 2016-17 Kos Katalog — by mettle fatigue
- Arts & Craftwork
- Books, Cookbooks, Magazines, Bookshops & Publishing
- Childrens', Craft Supplies, & Yarn: Knit, Crochet, Weaving
- Clothing & Jewelry
- Painting, Drawing, Digital Art, Photography, Sculpture
- Food-Drink-Garden & House-Home & Pet
- Service & Stationary Depts w/ Nasty Woman Merchandise Poll
- Software, Web Design, Music (CDs, DVDs) and Misc. Depts
Then to pass The Word to the wider world and find more help than we are able to provide by ourselves:
And in great appreciation for one who stepped up and took responsibility when another laid it down for the last time — a community quilt to Heal and ease pain:
Community Quilt for The Marti, MarTigre, Princess Marti who accepted the PWB Peeps torch when Tricia Wise the Pootie Queen held it out — The Marti's Quilt - 2nd diary
That’s what community does. E pluribus unum — one out of many. WE, the people.
Only strong together.