A Phantom Menace: In Need of a Safe Space
Donation protected
TLDR: We are asking for $3,000 to provide both of us with a safe space.
What up Fam! I’m sure you all have gathered, as you are visiting this page, that we got ourselves in a pickle and we’re running out of options. Asking for money at a time like this basically feels like I’m carving each of these words onto a chalkboard of shame...but ya grrl has to put her pride aside now and ask for help.
Various donations will get you:
$25: We will video call you, whisper sweet nothings into your virtual ear,
blow you endless amounts of kisses, and tell you dad jokes until your ears bleed.
$50: A signed photo of us taken especially for you! We’ll disinfect it, of course.
*$150: One of us will make you a 69-layered handmade mask. Two layers of fabric, a layer of cotton batting in the middle, and 66 layers of love.
*$500: Terrie will custom make you a drawing or give you a print of a photograph of your choosing.
*$3,000: All of the above plus a homemade Mexican meal by an authentic Mexican, after quarantine of course.
*We are open to negotiating barters or whatever services we can offer you at these levels of donation.
Our Sob Story:
So Beto and I just narrowly escaped an unsafe situation into another precarious one.
As some of you know, Beto is immunocompromised. We left our last space in a subdued panic...if you don’t already know, then I’m sure you can deduce why. We wanted to leave immediately but we knew that was socially irresponsible, so we spent three agonizingly long days waiting for our test results for you-know-what. Thankfully, we tested negative. But despite being thorough and having followed all recommended precautions and then some, there is still a chance we could’ve contracted the virus during the time we were waiting for our results. We couldn’t stay where we were but we couldn’t allow ourselves to enter a shared space without isolating for two weeks first.
As soon as we got our results we retreated to a hotel. It’s now day three, all of potential options to inexpensively fulfill our two week quarantine have fallen through. Currently the only guaranteed space we’d have to quarantine would be an Airbnb, which even the cheapest options for a non-shared space would cost us close to $800. This will be on top of my other bills, including full rent. We’ve been surviving on my income, as Beto is unable to receive unemployment and is ineligible for the stimulus checks. I haven’t received my tax return and stimulus check yet. It’s projected to arrive within the next week but it’s no guarantee and my funds are dwindling rapidly.
After this initial isolation, I will be able to return to my apartment, but with the city slowly reopening and me potentially increasing my interaction with people, I just don’t think it’s wise for Beto to share my bedroom. We are in need of a guaranteed safe space that is Beto’s own. He has some potential options but he, like many others, has been laid off and currently has no income.
So, we are trying to raise $3,000. This is to help pay for our two week isolation at an Airbnb, three months worth of rent for a space for Beto, three months worth of Beto’s medication, and a little for living expenses. We are trying our best to predict our need as to not ask for more than is necessary, and if our situation improves where the need is any less, we’ll update y’all on this Gofundme or pay it forward to others in need.
We are trying our best to get thru this as safely as possible for ourselves and others, but it’s proving to be extremely difficult when you’re running on empty. We are beyond appreciative for y'alls help and support in this ridiculously stressful time!!
What up Fam! I’m sure you all have gathered, as you are visiting this page, that we got ourselves in a pickle and we’re running out of options. Asking for money at a time like this basically feels like I’m carving each of these words onto a chalkboard of shame...but ya grrl has to put her pride aside now and ask for help.
Various donations will get you:
$25: We will video call you, whisper sweet nothings into your virtual ear,
blow you endless amounts of kisses, and tell you dad jokes until your ears bleed.
$50: A signed photo of us taken especially for you! We’ll disinfect it, of course.
*$150: One of us will make you a 69-layered handmade mask. Two layers of fabric, a layer of cotton batting in the middle, and 66 layers of love.
*$500: Terrie will custom make you a drawing or give you a print of a photograph of your choosing.
*$3,000: All of the above plus a homemade Mexican meal by an authentic Mexican, after quarantine of course.
*We are open to negotiating barters or whatever services we can offer you at these levels of donation.
Our Sob Story:
So Beto and I just narrowly escaped an unsafe situation into another precarious one.
As some of you know, Beto is immunocompromised. We left our last space in a subdued panic...if you don’t already know, then I’m sure you can deduce why. We wanted to leave immediately but we knew that was socially irresponsible, so we spent three agonizingly long days waiting for our test results for you-know-what. Thankfully, we tested negative. But despite being thorough and having followed all recommended precautions and then some, there is still a chance we could’ve contracted the virus during the time we were waiting for our results. We couldn’t stay where we were but we couldn’t allow ourselves to enter a shared space without isolating for two weeks first.
As soon as we got our results we retreated to a hotel. It’s now day three, all of potential options to inexpensively fulfill our two week quarantine have fallen through. Currently the only guaranteed space we’d have to quarantine would be an Airbnb, which even the cheapest options for a non-shared space would cost us close to $800. This will be on top of my other bills, including full rent. We’ve been surviving on my income, as Beto is unable to receive unemployment and is ineligible for the stimulus checks. I haven’t received my tax return and stimulus check yet. It’s projected to arrive within the next week but it’s no guarantee and my funds are dwindling rapidly.
After this initial isolation, I will be able to return to my apartment, but with the city slowly reopening and me potentially increasing my interaction with people, I just don’t think it’s wise for Beto to share my bedroom. We are in need of a guaranteed safe space that is Beto’s own. He has some potential options but he, like many others, has been laid off and currently has no income.
So, we are trying to raise $3,000. This is to help pay for our two week isolation at an Airbnb, three months worth of rent for a space for Beto, three months worth of Beto’s medication, and a little for living expenses. We are trying our best to predict our need as to not ask for more than is necessary, and if our situation improves where the need is any less, we’ll update y’all on this Gofundme or pay it forward to others in need.
We are trying our best to get thru this as safely as possible for ourselves and others, but it’s proving to be extremely difficult when you’re running on empty. We are beyond appreciative for y'alls help and support in this ridiculously stressful time!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Humberto Mendoza
Organizer
Chicago, IL
Catherine Barron
Beneficiary