Paying It Forward

Good People blessed at poor timing

2008-07-16T01:01:12Z

My mother's best friend just gave birth 4 weeks premature this morning! The thing is though, she was told that she would be unable to have children due to a number of woman problems. She didn't even know that she was pregnant until he was born on her apartment floor!

They're completely unprepared, have no money, and most importantly have no baby things. I'm unable to find work after moving back into town, so all that I can give them are rides to and from places when one or the other of the two are using their vehicle. My mother's in a similar financial situation, whereas she and the new mother work in a factory for just minimum wage. They've received some kind of paper from Medicare (or is it Medicaid?) and were told to go to various charitable organizations, but Goodwill has already turned them down. They said that only the main office can process such requests!

If you know of anyone who can help this new family welcome their unexpected child, please let them know this! They have a carseat and a bassinet on the way, but no diapers, clothes, blankets, padding...nothing else! I'm not sure what can be done. I have a paypal account, but don't know how to take money out of it. Maybe if someone could send them a gift card or something through snail mail? Or ording newborn items online and having them sent to her? The baby is in good health, but still won't be released for at least another couple of days.

My email is kismet_jaganashi@yahoo.com if anyone can spare anything for them, or has an idea for a way to help. I can give their address upon request.

I can't help them much, so I'm trying to find ways that I can. Even if it means finding others who can. I'm on my way out now, bringing over as much food as I can spare. These are good people; she's always baking and cooking for my mother and I. She always makes sure that my mother eats when she's low on groceries. Please help make this time a joy for them.

payingitforward @ 2008-07-06T13:36:00

2008-07-06T17:45:43Z

Question for everyone --

Do you think "paying it forward" can include friends/acquaintances, or only total strangers?

It just popped into my mind, because in the websites I've seen, they seem to focus upon strangers. But IMO, it's just as important to pay it forward to people you know, maybe even more so because you often have a bit more insight into what they might need or want. For example, I knew someone who was going through some personal issues; amidst them, I knew she planned to seek work, and thus was badly in need of new work clothes. So I surprised her with a gift card. When I was going through some health and work issues a few years back, I was pleasantly surprised by the aid of acquaintances I would never have expected anything from, and I guess I just wanted to do the same for somebody else. Maybe one day when she's more on her feet, the person I just gave something to can do it for yet another person, and thus the chain continues.

Obviously, she knew that it WAS me...and one of the things about paying it forward seems to be anonymity. But I still think that these kinds of things are just as valid as acts of giving. I mean, I certainly didn't need to give this person anything, and certainly nothing was expected of me. I just wanted to cheer her up a bit, as well as give her a little help toward her goals.

Regardless of what the "true definition" is, I'm still going to keep doing things wherever I see the need or an opportunity. But I just wanted to know what you guys thought on the subject...

Aidswalk, 2008, Boston.

2008-05-24T03:11:56Z

ajournalguy is participating in Aids Walk 2008 in Boston. Please feel free to pass the link to those who might be able to make good use of it.

Please see: http://ajournalguy.livejournal.com/76162.html

Final Update

2008-05-22T02:11:15Z

I wanted to thank all of your for your donations and prayers. I was on the phone with the power company this morning at 8 AM paying the bill. What was crazy is they still added a $35 dollar charge for "showing up on the cut-off list" even through they didn't have to dispatch anyone to shut the power off.! Apparently showing up on a list is motive enough to charge regardless of whether the service was interrupted or not.

Anyway - your donations and prayers worked and I cannot tell you how appreciative my neighbors are. They were scared, as we all were.

This is one awesome community - and individually - each one of you is very special.

Many Blessings to you all,
imahaint -

Update

2008-05-20T23:24:40Z

Just a short note to let you all know that we were not able to come up with the full amount for this bill. In speaking with a supervisor at the power company he informed me that they have until 8 AM to either drop the amount in the overnight box or be on the phone at 8 AM with a credit or debit card to pay it. He understood the dire need they are in but he also told me that with the economy the way it is and gas prices they way they are their figures for power shut off have gone up 30%. He even said he would talk to his preacher about this case, but he severely doubts there will be anything forthcoming.

Anyway, i just wanted to let you all know and maybe you can send up a little prayer for a miracle between now and 8 AM Eastern Time.

Blessings
Imahaint

Family needs to pay power bill - dire need.

2008-05-19T16:27:11Z

Hello all,
You may remember me posting back during Christmas about my neighbors who almost went without Christmas until they were helped by this group and some in the immediate community.

I am back to ask for help again, on their behalf.

The holidays came and went for this family and their neighbors have been helping them keep up with bills, groceries and meds. The father still hasn't been approved for disability (severe back injury) and his wife is ill as well. There has been no cancer diagnosis, but this is what we suspect. They have teens who are doing well in school and are doing everything in their power to help around the house and yard but our community is too far out in the boonies for them to get any sort of "teen job," like Mc D's etc. Frankly, even if they could find a job in town 20 miles from here, the gas and taxes would take what they earned in minimum wage for gas.

Since January life has been a downhill slide for this family. Their car broke down (transmission) and through some donations of parts from a junk yard and donation of labor from a couple of "shade tree mechanics" we were able to get the car back on the road for them to make medical appointments. What income they have has gone to make sure they could pay their rent, which has been consistently late for the past 6 months or more. They have applied for a HUD home but the line is long and the last estimate from HUD was another 6 months or more before they can accept them on the roles.

Because they did not work enough last year to qualify for a stimulus check this year, that is not forthcoming.

I do not want to impose on you all, but I feel I had no choice but to ask for help from this group and hopefully we can make something work. They have a power bill of $177 that needs to be paid no later than 4:30 PM tomorrow, May 20. This is Eastern Time in the US. If the bill is not paid, come Wednesday morning, they will be shut off. Although they have a grill to cook with, there would be no power to keep food in a fridge and they are on a well system so there would be no water - to cook, clean or bathe with.

IF ANYONE can help with a couple of bucks it would be most appreciated. We in the community are doing all we can but this one snuck up on us and we cannot come up with that amount in that short a time period. The power company is not going to work with us, and, well, that is their right.

Please let me know if you can help. My email is imahaint at intrstar dot net.

Again, anything, no matter how small, would be a blessing.

5/20

Several people have asked for me to place a donation button here - making it easier to donate.

Thank you again for any assistance you can give these people. We are hoping we can pay this bill by the 4:30 pm Eastern Time deadline.

help

2008-05-08T06:34:35Z

Wow,

this poor guy ... i feel sooo bad for him..

i donated

www.truedonations.com

I hate this.

2008-05-06T20:47:38Z

I really hate doing this and I understand this isn't the idea of this community to post things about yourself, but i've dried up all my recources and I'm not sure what else to do.

8 months ago my father was in a very serious motorcycle accident. He was in a hospital for 6 months before he was moved to a nursing home. Now he is constantly moving back and forth between the nursing home and the hospital. He is still in a coma and minimally responsive.

It seems to help when I visit and I have been down to visit him every month since the accident(i live about 9 hours away). He'd been doing really well but yesterday at about 6:30 I got a call from my aunt(his sister) telling me he started going downhill out of nowhere. I am rushing to be with him and catching a plane tomorrow(i never take planes, but i want to get there asap). My worry is that I didnt give myself the ussual time to save up for this trip, only bought a 1 way ticket because idk how long I'm going to be there. Not working I'm terrified of running out of money quickly, and I'm gonna need to eat at least one meal a day and eventually get a ticket back. If you can donate even one dollar that equals a donut or something. Anything you can spare would be a blessing. Thanks in advance.

In the mood to help someone?

2008-04-22T14:48:48Z

Go here http://www.2hands.org/index.html

Click on your state and see if there is anyone you can help.

payingitforward @ 2008-04-17T21:24:00

2008-04-18T01:24:46Z

This ad is on (Daytona's) Craig's List.
I seriously doubt that it is a scam.
Help if you can.

"25 M Here in Daytona Beach in Desperate need of Adult Diapers size large either cloth or disposable and either pull ups or with tapes i am Totally Incontinente and i am not able to keep purchasing these nor is my Uncle as we need the money for my pain and sezure medication i am not recieving any insurance right now and trying to get on Medicaid. My Uncle can pick them up from you just need to make sure the diapers are large size but the pullups can be mediums i know this seems like alot to ask but i am in need thanks!"

http://daytona.craigslist.org/wan/645618069.html

Rice for the poor and a fun game too

2008-04-10T04:18:17Z

http://www.freerice.com

For those of us who like to give away free food and expand our vocabularies at the same time, freerice.com shows you a word and a multiple choice selection of what the word might mean. If you get it right, they donate 20 grains of rice to the hungry. Over time I imagine it adds up.

the light the night walk

2008-04-09T22:19:02Z

I'm collecting donations for the light the night walk held by the leukemia and lymphoma society. I'll be walking in Frederick, Maryland. The walk isn't until October, but it's never to early to start collecting donations for such a worthy cause.

Last year I lost a dear friend to AML. She was 18 when she died. Her mom, brother, and I are making a tradition of collecting money for and walking the night the light walk each year.

Any donation, no matter how small is appreciated.

Here's the URL to my donation page:

http://www.active.com/donate/ltnBaltim/2412_HannahEliz

Please let me know if posts like these aren't allowed in this community. I'll gladly remove it if need be.

x-posted

come on vote!

2008-04-07T01:52:02Z

vote again for ericas mom/terry's floor. shes in an ugly floor contest and in second place, shes down 101 votes. help her win! all she needs is yr vote.

terry is her name
http://www.bobfm1039.com/flooryou_vote.html

contest ends on the 7th, so vote every day till the 7th.

also can you tell yr friends to vote also.

thank you sooooo much
erica & john

helping my mom get a new floor

2008-04-06T03:38:50Z

vote again for ericas mom/terry's floor. shes in an ugly floor contest and in second place. help her win! all she needs is yr vote.

terry is her name
http://www.bobfm1039.com/flooryou_vote.html

contest ends on the 7th, so vote every day till the 7th.

also can you tell yr friends to vote also.

thank you sooooo much
erica & john

Anyone know how to earn money online from home?

2008-03-02T01:20:48Z

Hi everyone, hope all is well and that people here are staying healthy and warm and aren't affected by the slowing economy.

I'd like to ask if anyone here knows of ways to earn money online doing some kind of freelance work. My friend who is sick, whom you've purchased Christmas gifts for in the past, needs some extra legal monthly income if she's going to make it where she lives (near her family) and keep taking care of her children.

She's incredibly talented with writing, editing, proofreading, graphic design (I have some samples of her work on my computer) and most other non-technical work which can be done from home. Her illnesses make it difficult to get out of the house on any regular schedule and some days she feels better than others. But she'd be happy to help out and make or write things for people so long as there's no real time pressure.

I was helping her out financially myself for quite awhile but I suddenly got laid off so now we're wondering how to pay for her car insurance, groceries, etc. She has PayPal and also the Net at home (which she needs for a small home-based business.) And we've tried churches but where she lives the places are very small and really they are set up to give help for onetime emergencies. Some help now would be great but really overall she needs an additional source of income.

Thanks everyone, and please let me know if there's any way I can help anyone here out, too. I may not have money to give at the moment but I can certainly write letters of encouragement or send cards.

An entry in the "good news" department...

2008-02-26T06:01:14Z

-------------------------------------

From this yesterday...:
-------------------------------------

</a></font></b></a>qilora
2008-02-24 05:59 am UTC (link)

well.

i am legally disabled because of a seizure-disorder (from a brain-injury) and my income recently went from 800 a month, to about 700 because i have to now pay 96 a month for Medicaire...

and when i went to pick up my medicine last month, instead of the usual 3 bucks, it cost me 30 dollars.... so guess what? i couldn't afford to buy a refill on my seizure meds this month.

30 dollars is what i spend per week on groceries.

let's just say i am afraid.

-------------------------------------

...to this today:
-------------------------------------

everything is so incredibly meaningful to me today...

thanks to one "stranger" (although let us hope i shan't be able to call him that for long) who had suddenly decided to help me out (big) and to all of his friends who hit that damn little 2-buck button a good 30+ times, i am going to be IN THE BLACK in a couple days with*out* having to mail the bank the 20 that i have here on hand, and won't need to grub a single *penny* of food money from anyone this week...

LJ *is* a global village.

its near-anarchy. its blessed. and *we're* blessed to be able to be here and a part of this "community"...

and to all my friends, new and old, know that i am here to be of service to you.. let's hope for long-friendships :-)

-------------------------------------

She's right you know... We're all blessed with each other's presence.

(Whether we want it or not!)

An LJer in need of a bit of help.

2008-02-25T05:32:16Z

So, I was reading my comments this morning on a post about healthcare, and I noticed this comment from an LJer I didn't previously know who stumbled across my post...

</a></font></b></a>qilora
2008-02-24 05:59 am UTC (link)

So, I read through qilora's journal to find out a bit more, and well... her story certainly checks out... she's a longtime user of LJ, has established friends who know of her difficulties and also try helping out too, etc.

Fortunately, she also had this up on her journal in a recent entry to her friends:

--------------------------------------------------

i had to send Tatti an email yesterday, telling him that i didn't clean the shul last week (because of getting sick)...

that means no money for groceries this coming week.

if you guys could send a couple bucks my way, it would *really* help.

thank you *so* much...

be well.
- Ulla & Co.
CLICK HERE:

(to donate $2 to "Juju's Empty-Belly Fund", via PayPal)
--------------------------------------------------

Unbeknownst to her, I gave the button several $2 clicks and posted about it to my journal, so she also got several clicks from some of my friends. She was very moved and grateful for the unexpected help, but her bank account is apparently still a few bucks in negative territory, so, wanting to see what I could do to help further, I did an LJ search and found this great community!

If any of you could help out with a few bucks / clicks, it would really help to make her day, I'm sure!

Help a Teen Raise Money for an Ultrasound Machine

2008-02-23T17:43:19Z

I just read an article about a teen who is trying to raise money to buy an ultrasound machine for her local hospital. She has juvenile linear scleroderma, which is a line of thickened skin that can affect the bones and muscles underneath it, limiting motion.

She set up a web site with some information about the disease as well as a yahoo group. If you click on her advertisements, you can help her raise some money. Her email address is also at the bottom of the site if you would like to contact her.

Help me help the babies!

2008-02-11T02:35:00Z

I signed up for the March of Dimes' March for Babies that will be taking place in April here in San Diego. As part of my joining the team, I really would appreciate people sponsoring me, as I am raising money to help the MoD in their research to prevent premature births and birth defects.

If you're interested in donating, here's the link to my personal page on the site:

http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?w=11002498&u=angelicsabyne

I'll also be adding a badge to my LJ profile, just to help spread the word further. If you're so inclined, would my little crusade warrant a mention on your own personal LJs? Pwease?? I'd be such a happy girl if you did.

Thanks, everyone!

Polar Bear Plunge

2008-01-05T13:55:40Z

Hey Everyone,
For the second year, I'm going to be partcipating in the Polar Bear Plunge. It's a fundraiser sponsered by the Maryland State Police for the Special Olympics of Maryland. For those who don't know, a polar bear (other than being an animal) is a person who decides to go into the water in the middle of winter. In Maryland we are going to be going into the Chesapeake Bay on January 26th. I had a great time last year, and decided to do it again this year. This is year my goal is to raise $1000, so far (including online and in person donations) I have about $350, so please help me. Last year I only went in waist-deep, this year, if I raise $750 I will completely submerge myself in the water.
Thank you so much for your support,
Sarah

Here's the site for online donations: http://somd.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=236610&u=236610-160575174

WGAid-A-Writer...

2007-12-26T20:19:47Z

A little help may go a long way.

This is a little underground railroad exercise, really. By no means is it a huge endeavor, nor is it a foundation in the making. No, it's basically a "serial giving" project... a proof to big moguls that hey, when the safety nets fail to catch some folks affected by the strike, the communities around them will send out a few intrepid souls with blankets from their pantries and hold them out to give them a soft place to fall.

And so, here we go. Crossing my desk on Christmas Eve, Sara's call came. Her house flooded thanks to the big storms in WA. She has trees down, flood damage (and no insurance -- who has flood insurance in a non-flood zone?!) and an 8 week dry spell (oh the irony!) thanks to the strike. She's been our Strike Captain out in WA since the start and is now looking for work to help offset this mess. The AF and other funds cannot help -- they're set up to help for emergency health care and housing... she's patiently going to wait for FEMA to chip in, but of course, it will only help so much...

She's not alone out there. There are many of us struggling through this strike. Through the Captain's List, I see these stories every day. We have writers with damaged homes from fires. We have writers looking for work, others who have needed help to get medical care (thankfully, AF was able to step in!) I've been scraping the bottom of the barrel myself right now, going into debt to put my Seizure Alert Service Dog, Pirate, through surgery this morning (Two dogs, three major surgeries in less than four weeks? Are the Powers that Be just screwing with me?)

Here is the link people had requested for our WGAid-A-Writer! Serial-Giving ("pay-it-forward") Project.

Pass it on -- may we be able to help as many as we can for the duration of the strike!

Elly, your friendly WGAe Minnesota Strike Captain
& the MN Scribes
Frozen in the Prairie

We pulled it off.....

2007-12-26T07:46:28Z

Just a short note to let you know we were able to pull the day together for the neighbors.

They had an inkling when they came home from her doctor's appiontment and found a fully decorated tree. Then the next day dinner and all the trimmings showed up! Then the shopping - which really touched my heart since the kids didn't buy for themselves, they bought for their mother. They got her matching bath accessories (all the same fragrance), and a beautiful sweat suit set, and then some make-up and topped it off with something their mother was craving for but didn't want to indulge - get this - Edy's Peppermint Ice Cream with Chocolate Sauce.

Boy was I impressed with these kids.

Tuesday morning all the neighbors showed up on the doorstep at 9 AM - singing carols and handing out the presents we gathered and after a round of toasts for a wonderful season with homemade egg nog, we said our goodbyes and left. I don't think there was a dry eye when we all gathered in the driveway. One of my neighbors said she'd forgotten what the holiday was really all about.....but she does now.

Anyway, just wanted to thank you all for going on this journey with me...it was an awesome experience.

Many Blessings to all of you,
Imahaint

imahaint @ intrstar.net

Neighbor Update

2007-12-23T23:16:37Z

Just an update for you all.

We were able to find a tree for the family and their neighbor "broke in and decorated" the tree while the family was at a doctor's appointment. They were a bit shocked, to say the least (Very Big Grin here).

The shopping session with the girls has been postponed until tomorrow - at 10 AM. The doctor appointment for their mother didn't go well and they spent today helping her adjust to some new medications, which make her very drowsy, so the girls opted to wait a day. One of the girls said that their intention was not to get shop for themselves, but to get for their mom. It was really hard for me to ckoke back the tears.

Which gives me a few more hours to collect any new donations to the fund. If you can help with a buck or two, please let me know.

When I went into this I didn't realize how much this had made MY season. Knowing I am going to pull off a small miracle is an awesome feeling. And knowing that this family really, really needs a bit of brightness in this situation has put so many things into perspective for me. It's not what you get, it's what you give. It's not what you have, it's how you use it. It's not who you know, it's how you rally those together to complete the task.

Many Blessings to all,
Imahaint

imahaint@intrstar.net

A Man with Stomach Cancer

2007-12-22T05:40:30Z

...could use some help:
http://www.kxly.com/index.php?story_id=16546

Neighbors Update

2007-12-20T20:23:51Z

Hello all,
I wanted to give you all an update on the Christmas help for my neighbors.

I got the local grocery to donate a ham for their Christmas dinner. Along with that, some of the employees got together and got a box together for the other dinner items and apples and oranges for stockings. Along with a few candy bars.

I have received 2 donations for the gift card, both for $15. This totals $30 received. Anyone wishing to help increase this can do so by emailing me at the address below.

A friend of mine came by with 2 wrapped packages for the parents - inside are a warm robe and slippers for each parent. Her friend has donated hats, scarves and mittens for the girls. A friend of the friend has brought by some of the cutest hair thingys I have ever seen as well as a bunch of cosmetic samples from her business, and socks...lots of warm socks..LOL....as well as a gift card for $25 in gas at one of the local gas stations.

As noted before, the last Harry Potter book has already been purchased.

I found out today they do not have a tree -

If anyone else would like to help please do so before the 23rd, as that is the day I am taking them to Wal-Mart for shopping.

I realise this isn't much, but it is a lot better than the nothing they would have found on Christmas morning.

Blessings,
Imahaint

imahaint@intrstar.net