Family needs urgent help

[Moon]

Thank [a lot of people's] goodness! Whew, that was a cliffhanger! You might try contacting COTS with your resume.

Yay! We did it! Thanks all who contributed! Blessings to you and your family, mamaj!

[Shandi]

Thanks for your response. I'm wondering if there's anything in your storage units that you could sell
to pay for the storage costs? I see a lot of people storing stuff for years because of various reasons,
and paying more in storage fees over the years than the stuff inside is worth. This may not be your
case but you may want to re-evaluate what you're paying to store.

I'm going to be two days late to pay the minimum i have to,
to keep everything in my storage units from being auctioned off.

[daynurse]

(edited by daynurse for clarity)

I'm a bit bothered by this. I'm getting the feeling, many have not walked in the shoes of those of us who have struggled for months, years and even decades with poverty. Wondering how to make it through the month on the first of the month when we pay off our debts from the last month, which we just finished struggling to get through. Standing in food lines for out-dated, moldy, bruised fruit and vegetables and dented cans which the USDA warns us not to eat from. Selling off our precious jewelry, electronics, clothing, etc. bit by bit as month after month marches on.

Some of us have moved out of our homes because of the current unnamed economic depression and have sorted through our belongings and put only the most necessary or the most dear things in storage. If you only really knew the sleepless nights and anxiety filled days that accompany true poverty. Possibly the person worried about a storage payment has already lost more than they can deal with.

Some people I know eat popcorn or peanut butter for weeks on end, and keep it to themselves.

I believe that global economic failure, designed by a few and so detrimental to so many puts genuinely hard-working, well-motivated people into a situation for which there is absolutely NO BLAME. But, the shame that was perpetrated by the "culture of greed" can so easily be felt by those who have fallen into poverty can be reawakened by even the most well-meaning questions about how well they've searched for solutions.

There are a whole lot of people out there with dire needs, going without food, transportation, childcare, medical and dental care, living with relatives in cramped quarters, etc. A whole lot and they are probably well represented on the WACCO list but not making their private struggles public. I talk with these people all the time and, my take is they are realizing that the situation is not of their own doing and they are not really taking any implications that they are not doing 'enough' to take themselves out of their hardship all that well.

Peggy

[Dixon]

Hey, Peggy--
I can understand how you might be sensitive about this issue, but in fairness, I think your attribution of insensitivity to Shandi must be based on inferences that aren't really implied in anything she's said. I took her posts which you refer to as harmless attempts to be helpful, and would urge you to err on the side of positive assumptions about her attitudes/meanings--always a good policy anyway. The insensitive Shandi you portray does not seem to be consistent with her persona as consistently shown in her Wacco posts, including the ones in this thread. I have no doubt that her question about why people didn't come up with donations for that lady needing to buy propane was directed at those who could easily afford it, not those of us who can't. I urge you to give her (and everyone) the benefit of the doubt.

[daynurse]

Please read the re-edit. Thanks, Dixon.
Peggy

Hey, Peggy--
I can understand how you might be sensitive about this issue, but in fairness, I think your attribution of insensitivity to Shandi must be based on inferences that aren't really implied in anything she's said.

[Moon]

Thank you for coming to my defense, Peggy. When i look at Shandi's posts, though--non-human animal support,
sharing practical information, concern that donations reach their intended targets--i don't think she looks down
on those living at or below the US poverty line (good thing--since now half of all US citizens fit this description),
though believe me i know first-hand a lot of people assume i must be stupid, lazy or strung out.
I think she's helping me problem-solve.

(edited by daynurse for clarity)

Some of us have moved out of our homes because of the current unnamed economic depression and have sorted through our belongings and put only the most necessary or the most dear things in storage. If you only really knew the sleepless nights and anxiety filled days that accompany true poverty. Possibly the person worried about a storage payment has already lost more than they can deal with.

Peggy

[Shandi]

Since some may be questioning my intentions and personal experience, I will share with those who may be interested. My life purpose is to provide support, encouragement, and inspiration.

I was born in extreme poverty to an abusive alcoholic father, and a mother who left me with an infant brother when I was 6. I know what it's like to go hungry, and to know the fear of living with the enemy. I became my brother's caregiver when I was still a child myself. I enrolled myself in kindergarten at 5.

An incident I remember that indicates a giving nature early on was when I found a quarter. That was very exciting in
1949. I spent 10 cents, and gave the rest to a friend, Why didn't I hoard that? I can't really say because I don't know.
I just know that it could be considered a stupid move, or a trusting one. Another time when we only had 2 pieces of
bread and 2 slices of baloney, for me and my brother. I noticed that my father had none, and I couldn't eat. I stuffed
the food in my pocket, even though I was hungry.

The last beating I took at 12 was enough to motivate me to leave home. I could see that if I didn't get out, I wouldn't
survive. I called Social Services, and asked them to find me another place to live. At first they said I'd have to go
to juvenile hall, but at the last moment a place opened up in a Catholic girls home for those from disfunctional
families. For the first time, I didn't have to fear physical abuse; they disciplined by taking away privileges. What a
relief! The nuns were like mothers. I was thankful to have enough to eat and clean clothes to wear.

I married a childhood friend at 19, and had 2 boys in the following 2 years. We didn't have much, but got by. It
didn't seem like poverty after what I'd lived with as a child. We were married 19 years.

After moving to the Big Island in 1983, I was nudged into starting my own business. I resisted because I had no
money and no desire to be in business. I had the belief that you had to be dishonest to be in business. I finally
gave in to this person who keep saying that I would be good at it. and would be providing a "service". That word
got my attention. And so with no money, no knowledge, and no experience in the print world. I became a print
broker. I taught myself what I needed to know, and my learning became a daily thing. I felt excited by this work,
as I'd never felt in any job. I helped people find the way to print their jobs at the best price by having the work done
on the mainland. I started by working at home, and after 4 years, I was able to rent a space in an office. As more
people heard about how they could save money, I got enough business to rent an entire space. After a few more
years, I gave half of the business to someone I'd hired as a graphic artist, and had proven to be very loyal. When I
left the island in 1993, she took over, and it still exists today, although the focus has changed to website development.

After moving to Marin county in 1993, I met a woman who gave me a "nudge" in the direction of being a "house
manager". I didn't know what that was, but I listened. She had a wealthy friend in Pacific Hts. who was looking
for someone to manage her household. She'd never had this kind of help before, so it was a new position. They
were interviewing experienced people from agencies, and me. I was hired, and the salary was $1750 a month.
I worked for them for 3.5yr. before I moved on to another family in Ross, and then another in Kentfield.

Because I was making good money, I was able to get a decent used car, and rent a house to share with other
women. I also made a commitment to help a young man I'd met who was mentally ill, and hardly had enough to eat.
I've been helping to provide his basic necessities for the past 20 years, until I became unable to work due to
painful arthritis. I now live on Social Security, and still help him a little when I can. I pay his monthly phone bill
so he has a way to connect with his equally impoverished parents and me.

I always believed from most of the posts I've read on Wacco, that this is mostly a poor community. So, when
Peace in Medicine was selling booth space for $350, I spoke up because I thought this was a high price to charge
artists in our community. I was corrected, and told that there are people in this community that can afford this.
I see a lot of workshops advertised that make me wonder how many people can really afford them. But they must
because they continue.

So, I was addressing my question to those people in our community, not the poor and unemployed. If I hadn't
taken the time to write what I did in that thread, the goal wouldn't have been met, and less people would have
even seen it in "Services and Referrals".

My question about the possibility of having something in the storage unit that could be sold is because I've seen
first hand with friends who could replace most of their stuff for less than they're paying in storage rent. (for years!) Sometimes we think we must hold on to our stuff, and it's difficult to consider letting go. If storage is a temporary thing, for those who have a realistic hope of their improved economic situation, that's different. I'm only suggesting
that an evaluation could provide some insight into what could be sold, especially if the person is going without
basic necessities.

None of this is my business, and I wish I could just look the other way, but I'm sensitive to the suffering of people
and animals. If I take a little time to help someone with my words, then it's well worth it.

I met a woman yesterday that says she never gives to the homeless, because she believes that the "rich" dress
up like homeless to get a handout! That is an excuse I hadn't heard before. She also doesn't care for cats or dogs.
This is a person I have no resonance with, and will steer clear of her.

It's really none of my business what people think of me, and it doesn't change my feelings or behavior. I know who I
am, and hopefully some of you know a bit more about me.

Thank you for coming to my defense, Peggy. When i look at Shandi's posts, though--non-human animal support,
sharing practical information, concern that donations reach their intended targets--i don't think she looks down
on those living at or below the US poverty line (good thing--since now half of all US citizens fit this description),
though believe me i know first-hand a lot of people assume i must be stupid, lazy or strung out.
I think she's helping me problem-solve.

[Moon]

Thank you for sharing so much personal information about yourself; it sounds as though, like me,
you wisely made an early decision to do better than the adults around you--and it's worked!

Since some may be questioning my intentions and personal experience, I will share with those who may be interested. My life purpose is to provide support, encouragement, and inspiration.
...
It's really none of my business what people think of me, and it doesn't change my feelings or behavior. I know who I
am, and hopefully some of you know a bit more about me.

[AllorrahBe]

I've known Shandi for many years and she is who she says she is. I've never seen any ulterior motive in anything she says or does -- just a strong, sincere, supportive nature which arises from the years of stress and struggle she has survived and continues to endure with her painful arthritis. She is a significant contribution in our conscious community. I am grateful that she did speak up and generate a little more interest, so that the goal was accomplished and our hearts and minds engaged.

Blessings to all!

Rev. Allorrah Be
Circles of Light Ministries

Hey, Peggy--
I can understand how you might be sensitive about this issue, but in fairness, I think your attribution of insensitivity to Shandi must be based on inferences that aren't really implied in anything she's said. I took her posts which you refer to as harmless attempts to be helpful, and would urge you to err on the side of positive assumptions about her attitudes/meanings--always a good policy anyway. The insensitive Shandi you portray does not seem to be consistent with her persona as consistently shown in her Wacco posts, including the ones in this thread. I have no doubt that her question about why people didn't come up with donations for that lady needing to buy propane was directed at those who could easily afford it, not those of us who can't. I urge you to give her (and everyone) the benefit of the doubt.

[Shandi]

Thanks for sharing from your own experience of me.
I appreciate you taking the time to do this.

I've known Shandi for many years and she is who she says she is. I've never seen any ulterior motive in anything she says or does -- just a strong, sincere, supportive nature which arises from the years of stress and struggle she has survived and continues to endure with her painful arthritis. She is a significant contribution in our conscious community. I am grateful that she did speak up and generate a little more interest, so that the goal was accomplished and our hearts and minds engaged.

Blessings to all!

Rev. Allorrah Be
Circles of Light Ministries