Update:
Wow. I put up a little late night blog post and ya'll have spread it out in the ether far and wide enough that Vetwife is withing $1,100 of her goal. You ladies and gentleman have really knocked it out of the park, thank you. Lets hit that goal today so Vetwife doesn't have to worry so much about her financial situation and get back to focusing on her family and advocacy for our veterans. This community rocks.
Update 2 From 2thanks in the comments:
If you are an Editor in any of the following groups, please Republish this diary to that group with a note such as this: "Vetwife is a member of this group and needs our help."
Here are her groups: An Ear for Music, Black Kos community, CareGiving Kos, Community Fundraisers, DK Quilt Guild, DKos Florida, DKos Military Veterans, DKos TWEETers, Daily Kos Quilt Guild Auction Alliance, Firearms Law and Policy, Firearms and Social Responsibility, Florida-Georgia Line Kossacks, Herding 438, House of LIGHTS, I follow and I Quote Meteor Blades in my Diary Group, IGTNT Advisory Group, J Town, Military Community Members of Daily Kos, Native American Netroots, Netroots For The Troops®, Netroots Radio, New Diarists, North & Central Florida Kossacks, Occupy Wall Street, Occupy the Mall - the March of the 99%, People Power Grassroots, Personal Storytellers, Pushing back at the Grand Bargain, Rape and Domestic Violence, Support the Dream Defenders, The First and The Fourth, Trial Watch, VAGV - Veterans Against Gun Violence, WYFP?
Putting this up quickly and not very pretty. You all have seen Vetwife and her posting here. She needs our help.
http://www.gofundme.com/...
Someone who has tirelessly advocated for our nations veterans needs assistance to continue her advocacy and well being. From her gofundme page:
My name is Amanda and I am also known as Vetwife. For over 14 years I have been advocating for veterans.
I am not a paid advocate but have managed to achieve a great deal of work on behalf of our nation's veterans. I have never been a paid advocate.
For the past two years I have seen our own finances slowly dwindle. As we have progressively taken from our personal finances to help many veterans and fund my advocacy, We are now in need .
This year we have had several deaths in the family.. I have been sick and had an emergency dental surgery which I had no insurance and cost over 3000.00. My husband who is a combat Viet Nam Vet has had one heart surgery and now recovering from a double hernia operation and in extreme pain of peripheal neuropathy and agent orange exposure. He suffers from PTSD as well. In March he was broadsided by an impaired driver and we now have a radiator to fix on top of all of the other problems already existing. The stress is unbelievable with so many needs in this immediate family.
We are raising the last of our 4 adopted grandchildren and our little one, who is 10 helps me help vets. We are also trying to put through two of our oldest through college. My husband and me have funded help for other veterans to the point we are in a very bad way financially.. I will be 65 June 18th .
We lost our home to the Big Banks in 2011 but right now with all of the illness, we are needing some funding to help with our own finances and kickstart the advocacy as we just cannot fund it any further, at least not without your help. My trip to Washington to speak to legislators on behalf of veterans needs was completely out of our pocket. I am needing some help immediately as for the first time in 4 years I did not have rent money. Our light bill is past 400.00 and to just look up and see bottom requires more than his VA disability and my small social security check .
My work with veterans has helped with the investigations into the wait lists and I was instrumental with an interview on CNBC's Death and Dishonor 's research on the treatment of our veterans. I was interviewed and gave information regarding the improvements needed, especially in the Gainesville and Atlanta VA's. I have gone to Washington twice to speak to legislators on behalf of our veterans and plights. I have appeared on radio and television pursuing the needs of veterans. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have answered the phone to find a distraught and many times suicidal vet on the other end of the line. I had a small program called Vetlife with Vetwife to give out the hotline suicide number for Veterans. I have given gas money, personally taken vets to appointments, bought washing machines, air conditioners and helped veterans get food and holiday gifts. I also have sent wreaths to Arlington, help fund memorials and helped other advocates. I have done this without being paid to do so. I have been recognized by National media but I am not looking for recognition but do need your help to pull me out of our own financial collapse
At this time I am pursuing the need for equality among veterans via pre 911 and post 911 caregivers compensation. I do not receive this compensation but thousands that do need the equality that is lacking. There is a huge gap regarding the benefits involved. We also personally help veterans in need with water, lights and their own dire straits. As recently as April I helped two widows get their widows compensation.
I help and consult veterans on how to appeal their claims, do their claims, and I do not receive any compensation for this for 14 years , but now, I need you to help Go Fund Me.
Can you help me now with some of my finances and help this advocate get back on my feet so I can continue my work with personal needs of individual veterans and also try and get help with my young adult son's Cleft pallet surgery in which he is not insured. He is trying to start college and is in pain a lot and very self conscious of his mouth and teeth. This for just any amount will be greatly appreciated.
To continue helping...I need your help to help me at this time. Thank you and God Bless and God Bless our veterans.
Any amount or any shares, tweets and recs will help. It's for one of our own who we all know has skin in the game and is in need. Do what you can.