How does one prepare for life's many surprises around the corner? It is virtually impossible to do so. Most of us spends years, perhaps even decades in search of two rather elusive goals: predictability and stability in our lives. It is a never-ending challenge and many never, ever get to the finish line. What it translates into is a life fraught with tension and uncertainty.
Simply muddling through is the best one can hope for. It's not as if we have our pick of desirable options.
Note from JnH (7:55 pm): Sorry, power outage in the area where I live in DC. I'm at a Starbucks and will try to catch up with comments made over the past couple of hours. Thanks for the terrific response to Drewid's needs.
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Fundraising Total Updates - from JnH and Drewid
1. 1st Fundraising Update from JnH (3:54 pm Eastern Time) - I got this Kosmail in the past few minutes from Drewid. He will be posting subsequent updates as we inch towards the $1000.00 desired goal, perhaps even exceed it.
"So in a little over an hour and a half all of you have helped raise 205 dollars. I am overwhelmed by the support of this community and am deeply appreciative of it. Thank you so much."
2. 2nd Fundraising Update from Drewid (5:00 pm Eastern Time) - Once again thank all of you who have donated, recced and republished and sent good thoughts and well wishes my way. It really means the world to me. As of right now we are just shy of a third of the way to the goal of $1,000 dollars at $315 dollars. I have full faith that this community will get me what is needed and I appreciate it so much.
3. 3rd Fundraising Update from Drewid (6:07 pm Eastern Time) - We are just shy of $400 raised at $385. Thanks so much, this helps a lot. I feel better knowing I am that much closer to what I need. Hopefully when people start returning from their days activities we will see some more traction but if not I am still thankful for the help and relieved I am that much closer.
4. 4th Fundraising Update from Drewid (7:30 pm Eastern Time) - I can not thank all of you enough. As of now we have raised $595. I can breathe a hell of a lot easier now.
5. 5th Fundraising Update from JnH (8:46 pm Eastern Time) - Folks, we are at $815. Less than $200 to go! Thanks so much for helping Drewid. He is headed home in a few minutes, where he does not have internet access. I too am leaving Starbucks in 10-15 minutes and am not sure when I'll have power at home.
6. Happy 6th Update from JnH (Monday, August 3, 4:40 pm Eastern Time) - I just got a brief email from Drewid and am happy to report that we did meet the fundraising goal. He is tied up today taking care of odds and ends, but sends his thanks to the entire community. He will post a diary soon.
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Most of you know Drewid as he has been a community member since 2007. He posted a diary yesterday which explained in some detail the temporary financial bind he finds himself in. In short, his workplace got flooded and without being able to put in sufficient hours in a service industry job, his income was reduced which means he cannot pay his rent for an apartment he moved into only a few weeks ago.
I have always prided myself on being self reliant. Even though I work in the service industry I am good enough at what I do and thrifty enough to never have been in a risky financial situation. I have never borrowed money from a bank, got a car loan or a credit card (until recently) and paid as I went. Many times it was paycheck to paycheck but often I have had reserve funds and even enough to enjoy myself sometimes. I never owed anything to anybody with the exception of the Bank of Mom to the tune of a few hundred dollars that is always repaid. I have never been unable to pay my bills, from my time in South Carolina, my move to and time in Vegas and my move to and time here in Portland, until now...
It has been one of the most stressful periods of my life over the past few month the summation being I moved and started a new job, but it is not quite that simple.
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You may have noticed that over the past nine months or so - even as official government statistics tell us otherwise that the economy is improving - we have had more fundraisers on Daily Kos than perhaps the previous two years combined. Does a rising tide always lifts all boats? It doesn't seem to be the case.
I must mention that in my Kosmail and email exchanges with Drewid (and others who are helping him) over the past few days, what I have learned is that he is a person of high character and repeatedly insistent that difficult as it is for him to ask for help from this generous community, it is his duty to pay it forward as soon as his financial situation stabilizes. I was very impressed by his determination to succeed and compassion for others who find themselves in a far worse situation.
Given the size of this community, and by the standards of other recent fundraisers, Drewid's needs are not that great. He must have $700.00 by tomorrow morning to pay his rent to his landlord, but it would be fantastic if we could raise at least $1,000.00 to ensure that he has a financial cushion. If there is one thing that all of us consistently do, it is to underestimate expenses.
Thank you and let's rise to this challenge to assist one of our own.
How You Can Help Drewid
- Go to PayPal.com. Click Send Money to Family and Friends, which allows the recipient to get 100% of the donation. Enter Drewid's email address drewid42@gmail.com and amount you are sending. The sender's name is visible to the recipient. Remember, every little bit helps and adds up in a hurry.
- If you would like to send a paper check or money order (to protect your real identity) through the US Mail, please send a Kosmail to Drewid to get his mailing address.
- You can also help by recommending this diary, offering encouraging comments, republishing to your Daily Kos groups, linking to your Facebook pages, and helping to spread the word through Twitter.