Fineena — Kossack since 2008 pretty much lurking this election cycle but active in some of the community diaries. She’s been hit with a load of stuff but depression and anxiety kept her from reaching out sooner. So here are the major issues with fundraising goals.
Primary issue — housing. Her landlord is selling the current house. (Neighborhood is going for mini-mansions so land is now a premium.) Rents in Charlotte are horrendous. Comparatively speaking she was lucky to find a house in a blue-collar to rough-ish neighborhood for only $125 a month more than her current place. The owner bought it recently as an investment for his daughters' college fund and is looking for a long-term tenant (2-year lease) so longer-term security for Fineena. She borrowed (will need to pay back) deposit/1st month’s rent and has signed the lease. She needs about $300 to move the utilities.
The backyard fenced needs repair before she can let the dogs out. She needs a storm door to the backyard. She thinks she has labor but must buy the materials so about $800 there.
She needs a mattress — one of the dogs chewed up her old one and she’s sleeping on the couch right now — estimating $600 here. She physically cannot move herself so she’ll have to have help — truck, guys, packing materials — looking at about $1,300 balancing a short distance against needing help packing as well as loading and unloading plus packing materials. (Charlotte, NC Kossacks interested in helping her move, please kosmail her — or me and I’ll contact her for you — and we can cut part of the fundraiser needs.) — estimating $3,000 for this part.
Secondary issue — car. Tags are expired (not sure on this — guessing $50 since the old tags are SC), the A/C compressor needs replacing (necessary for someone with COPD) estimated about $1,000, oil change and tuneup about $200. A car is necessary in Charlotte, NC anyway but definitely for someone with health issues and large dogs. — estimating $1,250 for this part.
Tertiary issue — health. No insurance and 3 years too young for Medicare. Depression (anxiety is more or less under control), COPD, CT scan 3 years ago showed a spot on her lung never followed up on, and a glucose reading of 237 so needs diabetes testing. Also needs dental work (2 cracked teeth and one gone/needs replacing). Estimating $750 for at least the diabetes tests.
Plus a large vet bill that will have to be addressed sooner or later — for now we’re saying later.
Fineena’s current income is Social Security — it’s not a lot since she had to take early retirement. She’s been so depressed and stressed lately that it’s “zapped all my creativity & that's what supported me for many years & what I'm hoping will make up the difference between my Social Security & paying my bills”. So she has a foundation. We’re hoping once she’s settled in the new place with a safe space for the dogs and a decent mattress to help her sleep, a working and legal car, and resolution on the diabetes issue she’ll be able to create her beautiful scarves and things again.
So the total — $5000 goal — for moving, mattress, storm door and fence repair, car tags, repair and maintenance, and the diabetes test.
Because gofundme sites take such a big fee, we’re doing this via PayPal — palskaren at aol dot com — any and all help will be very appreciated. And very much Kossack communty.