Help Steve Stay Mobile -- And Debt-Free

Hi friends,

As many of you know, I was recently in a car accident with a deer, and it appears to have totaled my vehicle — ironically, just one day after I spent $800 replacing the alternator! Thankfully, I'm okay physically, and insurance is in the process of processing the claim and determining the settlement. But I'm reaching out now because, while they are providing a rental during this process, I may soon be without a car, and the financial reality ahead is uncertain.

My car was a 2016 Hyundai Tucson with a current loan balance just under $11,000. Based on some basic market research I did on similar vehicles in this area — including comparable listings and Kelley Blue Book — it's likely that insurance will cover around $5,000 to $7,000, given my vehicle's mileage (about 142,000 -- I put on a LOT of miles in my work!) and condition (even though it still looked almost brand new). I don’t yet know exactly how much I’ll need to pay off the remaining loan*, but one thing is clear: I’ll need a permanent replacement vehicle soon — and I’d rather not go deeper into debt to get it.

I’m not looking for anything fancy. Just something reliable, safe, and affordable that can get me to concerts, rehearsals, and all the other commitments I keep to various music organizations/ensembles and community. Ideally, I’d love to purchase the next vehicle outright with cash — even if it’s older — to avoid getting back into those monthly payments and interest.

This is where I could use your help.

I’ve set a fundraising goal of $10,000, which covers:

(Estimated breakdown: optimistically hoping for no more than a $4,000 loan gap based on a likely $5,000–$7,000 insurance payout, plus up to $6,000 for a reliable used car and related fees)

If I end up needing less than what’s raised, I will either return the surplus to donors proportionally or donate it to a non-controversial local cause — specifically, The Bridge Home No-Kill Animal Rescue (bridgehome.org), in honor of the deer that caused the accident!

I’ll keep everyone updated transparently every step of the way.

I’m deeply grateful for any help you can offer, whether that’s a donation, a share, or just your emotional support.

Thank you for helping me stay grounded, mobile, and debt-free as I move forward.

With love and gratitude,

Steve

*When GEICO gets information to me about the settlement, I will update this campaign to reflect the actual numbers

By the way, GoFundMe lists this fundraiser as Bristol, VA even though I'm in Bristol, TN. I'm not sure why it does that considering it asked for my zip code, and my zip code is definitely Bristol, TN.