Desperatly seeking financial help

[Shari Lee]

Hello,
Thank you for looking. I have been an E-Bay seller for the past 12 years and have done well enough to get by. However, the bad economy has taken it's toll on my business and with the rains this month, I have not been able to find new inventory to sell, or have a yard sale to sell the stuff that didn't sell on E-Bay. My car is dying and if I cannot come up with $400 by Friday, I will get an eviction notice. My roommate is disabled and had an unannounced $300 deduction for his SSI check this month for Medicaid. My husband is disabled but the VA said he could not prove service connection, We have applied for SSI but it is taking so long. I am in a state of panic, so I am grasping at straws. If anyone is willing and able to help me Please do. If there is anyway I can earn your help please let me know.( See Reply to iaim2xl below for a list of ideas, if you have other ideas you believe us qualified for feel free to ask)
If you want to help I have provided a link recommended below
https://shariandmike.chipin.com/rent-...t-andor-pgande
Thank you for taking your time to read my post.
Happy Holiday's

I also have lots of mistletoe for sale.

[oliviathunderkitty]

It's heart wrenching to read your story. Although I am sure it is not much comfort, you are not alone. It is such a hard time for so many of us.

Do you know about chipin.com? It's like kickstarter, only for individuals, for any reason. It might be a way for you to get some help quickly. It is easy to sign up, especially if you have a paypal account. If you do it, perhaps you can post it here. Just think, if 100 people gave $10, it would be a huge help.

Best of luck to you.

Hello,
Thank you for looking. I have been an E-Bay seller for the past 12 years and have done well enough to get by. However, the bad economy has taken it's toll on my business and with the rains this month, I have not been able to find new inventory to sell, or have a yard sale to sell the stuff that didn't sell on E-Bay. My car is dying and if I cannot come up with $400 by Friday, I will get an eviction notice. My roommate is disabled and had an unannounced $300 deduction for his SSI check this month for Medicaid. My husband is disabled but the VA said he could not prove service connection, We have applied for SSI but it is taking so long. I am in a state of panic, so I am grasping at straws. If anyone is willing and able to help me Please do. If there is anyway I can earn your help please let me know.
If you want to help I can give you my bank account number, Paypal info, mailing address or meet you somewhere in Sebastopol.
Happy Holiday's
I also have lots of mistletoe for sale.

[Shari Lee]

Thank you for the suggestion. I have signed up. They link donations straight to my Paypal account.Here is the link if anyone is interested. https://shariandmike.chipin.com/rent...t-andor-pgande

It's heart wrenching to read your story. Although I am sure it is not much comfort, you are not alone. It is such a hard time for so many of us.

Do you know about chipin.com? It's like kickstarter, only for individuals, for any reason. It might be a way for you to get some help quickly. It is easy to sign up, especially if you have a paypal account. If you do it, perhaps you can post it here. Just think, if 100 people gave $10, it would be a huge help.

Best of luck to you.

[iaim2xl]

I also hear the pain behind your story and would like to help. As someone who once had to turn to the community for assistance with my son's medical expenses that weren't covered by the "system," being broke is a close and personal thing for me. I've been there. I know it's scary and tugs at your gut like little else, especially for people who aren't used to depending on others.

I will make a donation to your PayPal account. However, I would also like to suggest you consider creating a list of 10 things you and your husband could do to generate funds--other than your current business and SSI. I would consider giving further support or even a loan if you publicly announced ways you could create value for others as you ask for their help.

For example, can you:

1. Cook or bake something people would like to buy?
2. Help with any kind of small business services, like organizing receipts, doing data entry, making phone calls, etc.
3. Write something people need/want written?
4. Provide massage or other kind of healing services?
5. Help with house cleaning or detailing cars (I'd spring for both of those!)
6. Play music or sing for a gathering?
7. Provide child care for busy parents or someone that just needs a night out?
8. Tutor kids in some subject that you are good at?
9. Do research for a business or organization by using your computer on the Internet?
10. Create art or craft items that people need or would like to display in their homes or businesses?
11. Decorate a tree or home for the holidays for an invalid or busy person who can't or doesn't want to do if for themselves?
12. Create a bootstrap service or program to help people who are in exactly your situation so they can get needed funds by creating value for others.

I could go on, but you get the idea. What is your own list? Do any of the ideas above work for you? I would be willing to bet the community would jump in behind you if you transform your request for help to the level of "Please help, and here's how I will give back."

I hope my suggestion isn't perceived as a slight, especially given that you are facing losing your home. However, I have seen so many people in our area (and on WACCO) ask for help, and I believe the community would respond more powerfully if many of these pleas were presented as a request for a hand up instead of a hand out.

I wish you the best, and will be really interested in your response. Here's hoping your holidays end better than they started. Your resources--and those of the community--are deeper than they may appear at the moment. Have faith.

Blessings to you, and best of luck!

Hello,
Thank you for looking. I have been an E-Bay seller for the past 12 years and have done well enough to get by. However, the bad economy has taken it's toll on my business and with the rains this month, I have not been able to find new inventory to sell, or have a yard sale to sell the stuff that didn't sell on E-Bay. My car is dying and if I cannot come up with $400 by Friday, I will get an eviction notice. My roommate is disabled and had an unannounced $300 deduction for his SSI check this month for Medicaid. My husband is disabled but the VA said he could not prove service connection, We have applied for SSI but it is taking so long. I am in a state of panic, so I am grasping at straws. If anyone is willing and able to help me Please do. If there is anyway I can earn your help please let me know.
If you want to help I can give you my bank account number, Paypal info, mailing address or meet you somewhere in Sebastopol.
Happy Holiday's
I also have lots of mistletoe for sale.

[Moon]

I second coming up with other income sources. You need something immediately, though, and for that i'd suggest Legal Aid. A lot of the staff have worked in human services offices and know how to light a fire under whoever's holding up the works at the VA. Your roommate needs to file an appeal ASAP, since as long as the decision is going through the appeal process SSI can't legally reduce the payments (not that they always play by even their own harsh rules.) Be sure to let your home's owner know all the things you're doing to come up with the rent.

Hello,
Thank you for looking. I have been an E-Bay seller for the past 12 years and have done well enough to get by. However, the bad economy has taken its toll on my business and with the rains this month, I have not been able to find new inventory to sell, or have a yard sale to sell the stuff that didn't sell on E-Bay. My car is dying and if I cannot come up with $400 by Friday, I will get an eviction notice. My roommate is disabled and had an unannounced $300 deduction for his SSI check this month for Medicaid. My husband is disabled but the VA said he could not prove service connection, We have applied for SSI but it is taking so long. I am in a state of panic, so I am grasping at straws. If anyone is willing and able to help me Please do. If there is anyway I can earn your help please let me know.
If you want to help I can give you my bank account number, Paypal info, mailing address or meet you somewhere in Sebastopol.
Happy Holidays
I also have lots of mistletoe for sale.

[Shari Lee]

Thank you for your post. You are right my simply saying "if there is anyway I can earn your help, please let me know" is too vague and specifics are better.
I have been thinking about other money making ideas for quite a while, some I have tried to no avail, others require capital I don't have. While thinking about my ideas I have realized that I keep hearing my mom's voice telling me all the reasons I can't do it. I thought I had dealt with the negative thoughts and self doubt of my upbringing, but it seems that I have fallen back to that pattern. I have been so weighed down staring at a black hole of difficulty that I somehow have forgotten that positive thoughts are the first step to accomplishment. I want to thank you for helping me see that. Here is my list of ideas that do not require start up costs, I'll spare you the list the does.

1. I can be a Girl Friday and do the things you don't have time or desire to do.
a. Grocery shopping
b. Pick up dry cleaning
c Research items you want and find the lowest price.
d. Do your shipping
e. Wrap your gifts.
f. Work in your garden
g. Sell your items on EBay
h. Decorate your Christmas tree

2. I love to surf the web and learn new things so I would love to get paid for researching

3. I worked as a food server, trained new servers, and specialized in large parties and banquets.
While my body will no longer allow doing this on a regular basis, I can
a. Do parties.
b Consult with service oriented businesses to spot and correct service deficiencies to improve productivity, efficiency, and customer satisfaction


My husband is called McGyver and he says " it ain't broke till I say I can't fix it" and most times he can fix it He is a jack of all trades.
He is very smart and capable and while he lives with pain daily he can be fine for months, but due to back issues he cannot sustain regular employment
as a sneeze in the wrong position could have him down for weeks. Please don't ask him to do heavy lifting because he will do it, then pay for it later.

1. Handyman
a. Fence or gate repair
b. Leaking sinks
c. Change door locks/ knobs
d. household repairs

2. Telecommunications Tech
a. Run or replace inside telephone wiring, add extra jacks
b. Hook up computer system
c. Install entertainment systems (TV, Cable/sattelite, audio)

3. Electricians assistant
a. Repair or replace light fixtures or ceiling fans.
b. Repair or replace light switches, or outlets

4. Repairs electromechanical items ie.........

5. Rebuilds vintage camping lanterns

6. Auto mechanic (most non computer related issues)

Please keep in mind my car is unreliable at best (my husband can fix it as soon as we have the funds for parts)
Anything that I can't do from home will be "weather pending' as my car won't run well when too cold or too wet.
Thank you for taking your time to read my post

I also hear the pain behind your story and would like to help. As someone who once had to turn to the community for assistance with my son's medical expenses that weren't covered by the "system," being broke is a close and personal thing for me. I've been there. I know it's scary and tugs at your gut like little else, especially for people who aren't used to depending on others.

I will make a donation to your PayPal account. However, I would also like to suggest you consider creating a list of 10 things you and your husband could do to generate funds--other than your current business and SSI. I would consider giving further support or even a loan if you publicly announced ways you could create value for others as you ask for their help.

For example, can you:

[iaim2xl]

Hi Shari:

Your reply is authentic and completely inspiring!

Like you, I had the programming from a childhood filled with negative messages and have therefore struggled with money issues all my life. But I’ve worked on it so much that, finally, the Universe is shifting for me. Money is getting easier, and I am making more with less effort. I’m not out of the woods yet, but the energy is clearly shifting.

It all started with the same taking of responsibility and willingness to be open that you just demonstrated. The results don’t manifest in big ways immediately, since we have a lifetime of energetic knots to untangle. But you have to start where you are. You are doing that, and I salute you!

I can generate a little work for both of you, and we can discuss details sometime tomorrow. Call me, and we'll discuss a couple options you and your husband can consider to do some work for us from among the things you listed.

To others in the community... I encourage you to do the same, since these guys appear to deserve the break and are willing to participate in their own solution. Well done.

[Shandi]

A Wacco member "Feed the Birds" has made a donation, and hasn't received a "thank you". I don't see her
post here, but this is my response to that. ["Feed the Birds" deleted their posts - Barry]

​Hi,

I didn't see your post on Wacco, about them not thanking you for your donation. I wonder if they're too stressed out to spend much time on the computer. I also gave them my number because I need some help with my car, but I haven't had a reply yet.

I think it's helpful for all of us to suspend judgement at this time. Give as if no one is looking.

Shandi

[oliviathunderkitty]

For those of you who became interested in chipin because of this post, you should know that it will be shut down as of March 7. It sold and the new owner has made this decision. Sad; I hope something similar replaces it.

[Quidonyx]

Is there only one "chipin" site that everyone has been using??
I would hope that not to be the case,but if it is,truly sad indeed...

[oliviathunderkitty]

chipin.com is the site. It shuts down on March 7.

I would assume that something similar will appear at some point but the corporation that bought chipin.com owns the domain name and is retiring it. I don't know more than this.

In my previous post about this, I accidentally wrote May 7 instead of March 7. March is correct.

Is there only one "chipin" site that everyone has been using??
I would hope that not to be the case,but if it is,truly sad indeed...

[Shandi]

I think there are other sites; I remember seeing one called Fundly. Have you done a search for "donation sites"?

I remember another one mentioned on this board some time ago, but am not remembering the name now.

I'm trying to help a homeless family, who beg every day to try to get enough money for a room for the night and food. They have no car, and very few minutes to make calls. We communicate by text, and when I see them at the Raley's shopping center near Commerce and Expressway, and also at the Target center on Expressway.

Although there are a lot of resources, it's difficult to get to them without a car or phone service. The motel they've been in didn't even have wifi, so the 11yr. old boy couldn't do his homework. The 6 yr old girl seems happy with colored pens and paper to create artwork.

My car has become a mobile food bank for them, and they take what they can carry. I continue to share food with them from our pantry, and help them move their belongings, but I'm unable to transport them, because I'm low on funds for gas myself.

It's been suggested that I ask for donations from our Wacco community, but in my past experience with people needing help, who were in desperate circumstances, I didn't see much response. I don't judge this. Everyone has their reasons for not helping people in need. I see the most help given by those who have experienced homelessness themselves, or share the own meager resources.

Wealthy people generally give to organizations, and benefit from the tax write off. I prefer to give directly, because that way I know that my money isn't being spent on salaries and marketing. But then I'm not wealthy, so my perspectives are different.

My motto is "Give, like no one's looking....."

The family that I'm helping had their car and all their belongings impounded due to expired registration, just before Thanksgiving. The policeman left them on the street, with whatever they could carry. The mother said "We haven't done anything wrong. It's because we don't have money."

My friend said recently "They need to get a job!" Yes, this would be helpful. They'd like to get one, too. Imagine for a moment that you've lost your home, your car, your belongings except those you can carry on your back. You can't use your cell phone because you don't have money to buy minutes, and you have no access to the internet.

Suggestions are welcome for this common scenario, for individuals and families in our own community. Being homeless means being on the other side of the "law", and rarely brings a compassionate response from those who are trained to "protect and serve."

We know that many people live without much money, and one of our members has been doing this for many years, but you can't barter with the DMV for car registration, or for that matter with anyone else...when you have lost your essential belongings, and know that each day adds another $30 to the impound fee, for a car that doesn't even have the value of the fees.

So, the kids travel from the motel, by bus to and from school in Sebastopol, where they've gone for years. The parents don't want to pull the kids out of school, since it's the only stability they have.

chipin.com is the site. It shuts down on March 7.

I would assume that something similar will appear at some point but the corporation that bought chipin.com owns the domain name and is retiring it. I don't know more than this.

In my previous post about this, I accidentally wrote May 7 instead of March 7. March is correct.

[Moon]

They have no car, and very few minutes to make calls. Thanks for explaining why they didn't take me up on my offer of a truck repair job; they must not have been able to get back in touch with me enough times to set it up.
I continue to share food with them from our pantry, and help them move their belongings, but I'm unable to transport them, because I'm low on funds for gas myself.
Maybe we could take turns? I'm currently living in Rohnert Park and could go once a month.
Being homeless means being on the other side of the "law", and rarely brings a compassionate response from those who are trained to "protect and serve." You mean like Cieli, who's killed 2 people in a year? New DA please!

[Shandi]

We aren't referring to the same people, but I do remember emailing that couple, and they did get back to me. Wish they'd check in, and let us know how they're doing.

The family I'm speaking of is a mother, father, a 6 yr old girl, and 11 year old boy. The father worked as a contractor, before the downward spiral. He continues to look for construction work.

They have no car, and very few minutes to make calls. Thanks for explaining why they didn't take me up on my offer of a truck repair job; they must not have been able to get back in touch with me enough times to set it up.
I continue to share food with them from our pantry, and help them move their belongings, but I'm unable to transport them, because I'm low on funds for gas myself.
Maybe we could take turns? I'm currently living in Rohnert Park and could go once a month.
Being homeless means being on the other side of the "law", and rarely brings a compassionate response from those who are trained to "protect and serve." You mean like Cieli, who's killed 2 people in a year? New DA please!

[Imagery]

Would that gentleman consider working on one of the largest construction projects in Sonoma County?
Perhaps he could work construction on the new RP Casino (please, no judgement on right/wrong) which should last about 10 more months.

Just a suggestion, as I'm really not in a financial position to help.

[Shandi]

Thank you for this suggestion that I hadn't even thought of. (Two brains are definitely better than one!) It would be perfect, since they're now staying in a RPk motel. I wonder who to contact for this? Does anyone know? I'll do a Google search, which is how I find so many things.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Sandy and The Family

Would that gentleman consider working on one of the largest construction projects in Sonoma County?
Perhaps he could work construction on the new RP Casino (please, no judgement on right/wrong) which should last about 10 more months.

Just a suggestion, as I'm really not in a financial position to help.