As many of you know, TiaRachel has been facing a rather difficult time of late. A host of health issues have adversely affected her ability to work and put her in a serious financial bind. She needs our help to secure a stable future. It is within her reach. Let's collectively ensure that she starts anew in 2015.
Over two weeks ago, Tia reluctantly posted a diary because she had run out of other options. I happened to see it and messaged her that many of us had not only read the diary, but would try to assist her as best as we could. What followed over the next few days surprised me a bit. It shouldn't have.
Due to this community's incredible generosity and collective embrace of Tia, we have raised about $5,500.00 so far and are only $1,500.00 away from reaching our fundraising goal.
Fundraising Updates
• #1 (4:00 pm EST) - We wanted to let everyone know that as of this afternoon, the fundraising total stood at $5867.00. Just another $1133.00 to go to reach our goal of $7,000.00.
• #2 (6:00 pm EST) - According to a diary posted by Tia, it leaves her "only about $1000 on the wrong side of a zero-balance."
Thanks for your incredible generosity and also for making a difference in Tia's life.
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I contacted several community members to ask if they could post diaries on Tia's behalf. A couple even offered their help without any prompting from me. Everyone responded positively with messages of encouragement, compassion, and empathy.
In addition to Tia's appeal for help, here's a summary of what they wrote in their diaries over the past couple of weeks:
• TiaRachel: I've got an assortment of health problems (fibromyalgia, chronic migraine, autism-related anxiety, depression, etc...). I was getting worker's comp (long story), but they started requiring me to look for 'appropriate' work, but define 'appropriate' as related to that one specific problem, not all the others. I just don't have the spoons to do customer service/retail, especially for what it pays.
So A) I need leads to work I can mostly or entirely do from home, probably writing/science related (but not journalism), which pays in more than $5 or even $20 per assignment. And something that doesn't require me to hustle for each micro-job. I can also code a little, & could probably pick up some programming given the breathing space & a carrot at the end. (I could probably also do some sort of social media work, or something activism-related that isn't predominantly interactive.
• Dallasdoc: Her talent all of us can attest to. Like so many of us, TiaRachel has health issues which make the current economic conditions we all face particularly difficult for her. And with our new Congress, any help from our government seems further away than ever. We need to depend on ourselves, our friends, our community in these benighted days. And that's why I'm asking this big, generous community for your help.
• Aji (posted on her behalf by Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse): When I read Rachel's diary, I felt the painful stab of recognition that goes with seeing parts of your own experience laid bare in public. It was followed immediately by a desire to protect her from what I knew would be the reaction of some who read it: "Just get a job"; "beggars can't be choosers"; "you should be grateful for any work you can get"; on and on and on. It's what I expect in a culture where a lack of empathy is not merely institutionalized, but celebrated. But that doesn't mean that she should have that added to her already considerable load.
• JoanMar: What if you were told of a family member who is suffering from debilitating health and financial issues, and you had the ability to help, would you? Of course you would, because here on the GOS more than any other online community, we do take care of our own.
• side pocket: There's such a spectrum of health and financial situations in the country at large and in our wonderful community here at Daily Kos. As the holiday season approaches and spending ramps up it's sometimes easy to ignore the reality of people's difficulties, especially for those of us who are on an even keel. And if you will excuse the metaphor, even on even keel, it only takes a small wave to tip a craft and start it sinking.
• ericlewis0: Please give if you can! If you can't, that's okay - even just an encouraging word in the comments would be appreciated. Or better yet, if you have any leads for employment for TiaRachel - preferably writing, coding or activism gigs she could mostly do from home - that would be divine. Thanks, everybody!
• bobswern: Personally, I know if it wasn’t for my friends I probably wouldn’t be here, walking on this planet, today. But, that’s another story for another time. However, when you’re faced with personal, converging emergencies—much like our society as a whole—which in TiaRachel’s case means overwhelming and urgent medical, financial and employment needs, which, in turn, create massive stress, feeding a perpetual fire under those health-related problems, it can be hard to cope.
• tmservo433: Asking people for money is hard – it is always hard. But I’m asking people to donate not to some vague conclusion or hoped for contest, I’m asking Kossacks to donate to help a friend. Haven’t we all been there once? I’m sure most of us have. Struggling to pay bills. Worried about our future. Trying to find where we belong in the world.
• slinkerwink: They're buying presents with the money they have. They can afford to drive. They can afford to take to the air and fly across the nation to see their loved ones. They can go to the store to pick up a plump turkey for their family, and pay their utilities to keep the fireplace going in their homes. But you can't. You're so deep in that financial hole, and you feel like no one's listening to you asking for help.
• Avilyn: If you can't make a financial contribution (and like I said, I've been there, so I understand that too), then Tips, Recs, Comments, Republishes, and Shares of this diary to help keep it visible and shine as much light on it as we can for TiaRachel would be greatly appreciated as well.
I cannot say it any better than has been stated above by our superb diarists. I should also mention that 2thanks has spent a considerable amount of time to individually Kosmail hundreds of community members to remind them of this worthwhile effort. Additionally, hundreds more - too numerous to list - have quietly helped in ways large and small.
If you've ever been in a situation like Tia's, this recent comment perfectly captures how we all feel (has there ever been a better commenter on Daily Kos than Dallasdoc?)
Embarrassment is comforted by help
I know this community will continue to come through for you, dear. Someday when you're better off, enjoy the pleasure of helping someone else in need. We've all been there, and we likely will be again someday. What makes life bearable but people who care?
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Please help as much as you can. Every donation, however small, adds up. Thank you.
Please Help TiaRachel
If you've never used PayPal to send money to anyone, it is really simple.
- Go to PayPal.com. You do not have to have an account to send money.
- Click Send Money to Family and Friends.
- Enter TiaRachel's email address (which is tiarachelgordon@gmail.com) and amount you are sending. The sender's name is visible to the recipient
- If you'd rather send a check in the mail, you can Kosmail TiaRachel to get her mailing address.
Please tip/rec these diaries and republish to your Daily Kos Groups. Link to your Facebook pages. Tweet to your friends. Many thanks on behalf of the entire fundraising team.
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