As we sit here fearing the worst from the Supreme Court's upcoming decision about the Affordable Care Act, I'd like to share a possible way Kossacks having (or facing) unbearable medical bills can get help. We do as much as we can with our own Community Fundraisers, but there are other avenues one can explore.
Crowdfunding uses the internet and social media like facebook and twitter to raise funds for start-up businesses, to save a home from foreclosure, to meet adoption expenses ... almost any project you can imagine.
How does it work? It's simple, really. You should write a compelling story, state your fundraising goal, and pick a site. Here are three that have been successful in covering medical expenses:
GiveForward. com
GoFundMe.com
FundBunch.com
When you tell your story, ask readers to contribute and/or to pass the information along on their social networks, much like we ask Kossacks to rec fundraising diaries so more people will see them. According to GiveForward, an estimated 20% of donations on their site come from friends of friends, people who don't actually know the patient/recipient.
If any of you have used crowdfunding successfully, please tell your story in a comment. If you know of other, perhaps better, sites, tell me that in a comment and I'll add the link to the diary.
Sorry for the short diary, but this needs circulation. I hope the information helps someone. ♥
SITES FROM THE COMMENTS
From Vetwife: TreeOfWishes