Gofundme help for friend burned out in house fire (more on the goat thread)
3At the suggestion of @unksol, I am posting the gofundme for my friend who was renting in a room in a house that was destroyed by fire at 4am on Oct 1st. His cat also died in the fire. His church first said they were going to create a gofundme, I sent them the photos, and then they said the church doesn’t do gofundme’s (actually his church hasn’t done much of anything so far despite promises). Since his last paid for night in a hotel is Oct 7th (Red Cross provided), I created one for him so he can get help sooner rather than later. The Veterans Administration has help (which he has applied for) but it can take as long a month for that to happen.
His room is the one on the far right that also includes the “front door” (rooming house).
His sweet kitty Prince who died in the fire
More photos on the goat thread.
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Well that sucks that the church won’t but they might do something more direct. Usually the church/news provides some more immediate support. Poor kitty.
@unksol He called me tonight. They (the church) found a place to tow his car to so that, at least, gets it out of there. And it got towed for free. Hopefully this weekend they will do more to help.
I know. Prince was such a sweet cat. About 3. He was a very loving lap cat once he grew out of the demented, crazed cat toddlerhood stage. That is a photo I sent him when he was in the hospital with the cancer surgery (I was feeding his cat). He was missing his person so sleeping in the dirty clothes for the familiar smell I guess.
@Kidsandliz @unksol Such a beautiful cat.
@Kidsandliz @unksol
Was this in commerce Twp, MI?
@Kidsandliz @unksol
Never mind just read the go fund me, I just asked bc commerce had a house blow up earlier this month. I’ll donate what I can. I don’t have much bc I’m disability myself but that story about him going back for his cat was just heartbreaking.
@Star2236 His situation has just improved as he now has a free place to stay, a job doing odd jobs where he will be staying so the immediate crisis has been averted. I moved him down there this morning. The situation with his cat is just heartbreaking.
@Kidsandliz
I’m glad to hear he’s doing better, I started to cry when I read about his cat.
@Star2236 A long haired yellow and white cat ran by while we were unloading my car at the travel trailer and he had trouble not crying. It is just so sad.
Well sounds like they are helping how they can. And the red cross has stepped in for immediate support. Obviously needs some more help to make it the whole month.
@unksol Some generous soul was the first to donate and donated $50. I texted him and he was in disbelief that anyone would help. He was very grateful. That will be put to use by him on Oct 8th to help pay that week of hotel bill (much cheaper to pay one week in advance at extended stay type places).
The biggest immediate issue is to be able to hold on until the Vet hotel voucher is available and then buying a few things like more clothes (he has 2 shirts, one pair of pants…), a can opener for his canned goods I rescued - stuff like that. Once that voucher kicks in assuring he has a place to stay until the vet section 8 voucher, things will be less stressful for him.
@unksol Church found him a free place to stay that comes with a handyman job so things are looking up more than they were yesterday.
@Kidsandliz it’s so thoughtful and generous of you to make the community aware of this need.
Thank you for the chance to pay back a small portion of the help that I’ve received from others over my life’s journey!
@TrophyHusband My friend is grateful for any help help he gets. About 3/4th’s of the next week in the motel has already been raised (after the fees) which is wonderful!
Hey, just curious if there’s a way for people to donate directly to him, or the red cross. In the news story it says that seven people were injured, so there should be some kind of community fund for everyone, right?
@RiotDemon @kidsandliz This seems like a great option since multiple people were affected and could give us updates on how the support is helping.
@ExtraMedium @RiotDemon
Only one was injured who went to the hospital (smoke inhalation, discharged several hours later) and one injured who did not go to the hospital - first and second degree burns (that was my friend). The rest were OK. The house owner/landlord had insurance on the house so that will help him (and his partner - both of whom lived there). I’ll see if the ones I can contact know how to get hold of the other two.
The Red Cross gave them all they will give them so donating to the Red Cross will likely not result in them receiving that money although certainly help others in need. As far as I know all 7 all received the Red Cross help. The older couple have found another rooming house and I moved them there the other day. I just drove them today to pick up a mini fridge.
Probably the best way is if they set up a paypal account so you can send money directly to them. I know the couple in their 70’s have not forwarded their mail yet to their new place, my friend put a hold on his but if he picks up his mail the hold is removed. At the moment he doesn’t have a place to have it forwarded to. I told him to get a PO box but he hasn’t done that yet. I’ll talk them about how to create a paypal account. Once they have done that I can post privately in a whisper what their paypal is. Certainly paypal will bypass the gofundme fees which would be helpful.
@RiotDemon One other option is that a check is made out to him, mailed to me and then I can give it to him. He hasn’t answered the text about paypal but I am driving him somewhere tomorrow morning so I can discuss it with him in the morning.
Enough has been donated that another week of the hotel can be paid for. Thank you all who donated! That buys time. He does have a lead on a camper on someone’s private property which would either be lower rent or free (not sure which, I’ll have to ask). While it is in the boonies, that would be a really be a money saver. I am seeing my friend tomorrow and giving him the money from the fund that we have so far (I’ll have to front him some of it since there is a delay in getting the money out of the fund but he needs it tomorrow morning. I’ll take a pic and upload it when I give him what is in there so far.
Thanks for posting the go fund link! I’ve been so sad about your friend and his cat for the past few days.
@kerryzero It’s a hard thing to happen to someone.
I just added the link to his gofundme to my Facebook wall. Maybe we can get a few donations from my friends.
Bb
@sarahsandroid Thanks for doing that!
Update. I went to the hotel this morning and his church had found him somewhere to stay for free. They knew someone with 200+ acres with a bunch of cabins and 5 or 6 campers that they rent out on their property. They are letting him stay in a 32’ travel trailer that is fully outfitted. They also hired him do odd jobs around the place 20-40 hours a week depending on the weather. The place his car was towed to they are replacing the engine for $1000 and it should be done Friday. As a result the money he has so far from the gofundme and the rent money he had not yet paid in rent to the owner of the place that burned down is going to the car. He plans to keep living in that trailer until his section 8 voucher comes in.
Also since people want to help the others what we can do until I can figure out another way is if you donate, leave in the note how you want the money you donated to be split up between the people.
Couple - boyfriend 75, girlfriend 57 is currently working as a waitress/bartender (I have been helping them, they found a room in another rooming house that is about 1/3 of what they were paying before. I moved them the other day. I have texted the girlfriend (she is currently at work) to call me so I can walk her through setting up a gofundme)
Guy with disability (mental health) - need to find out how to get hold of
Guy who did odd jobs - need to find how to get hold of
Albert - my friend. He was going to set up a gofundme. He was also going to call his bank to find out if someone else took a photo of a check, send the photo to him, if he could use that to deposit the check since he can do that if he takes the photo.
Owner/landlord of the house (there was insurance) and girlfriend - he is currently not answering the phone or returning messages to anyone I know who has been calling him. He is sort of a jerk. He tried to collect October rent from people as they were sitting outside right after the fire and according to neighbors he and his girlfriend were going through what was left in everyone’s room before they even had a chance to really do that themselves. Fortunately he left all the food in the chest freezer because most of it was still frozen so I got Albert’s out before he had a chance to come back for it.
Leaving the hotel this morning with all his worldly goods
At the travel trailer
Inside the trailer putting things away
@Kidsandliz You are such a good human being!!
Major good karma coming your way, I am sure. I hope we can help some more too.
TYPO: Meant to say Albert was going to set up a paypal, not a gofundme.
@kerryzero I am just paying forward help I have received when I have been in a hole. I think most people would help their friends when something like this happens. I sort of fell sideways into helping the couple, but they needed it and I was in the right place at the right time.
Albert went to set up a Paypal (not gofundme like I said in the message above - too tired) and that wants his address. He isn’t sure what the address would be at the trailer. The owner of the trailer doesn’t know either. I told him, again, just get a PO box since there is no mailbox where the several trailers and a cottage were anyway or ask someone else who lives in one of those places what they are using for an address. Once that is solved there will be paypal address. I’ll post when that is ready.
I haven’t yet heard back from the couple about setting up a paypal. Again if you want any money you donate to go to them indicate that in the message notes when you donate.
I really appreciate people’s generosity.
I’m so glad he got the trailer and the job; that was fast!
@Kyeh His church found that for him. He is half way through setting up paypal (needs an address and he doesn’t know what his mailing address is) and also told me that his bank said if someone writes him a check, emails him a clear photo, he can use that photo to deposit the check. So if anyone wants to go that route they can whisper me for his cell number.