Lynn's Community Car Memorial Fund

Hey friends, I'm raising funds to provide for safe, free, and friendly rides as a community service in memoriam to my best friend and mom, Lynn (M. Lynn Olson). This is an Indianapolis based campaign of transformative change and radical friendship to strengthen our relationships and support one another. It's a buddy system on wheels for people who need to go places. That's the idea.
 

 

 

 

 

Why Rides?

 

Since birth, she managed nearsightedness and astigmatism that (even when corrected) left her legally blind and unable to drive a car. A lack of the mobility that cars provide (in contrast to public transit which we also used and supported) kept her isolated and impeded her sense of freedom and dedication to self care. Lynn collapsed at home, here in her Indianapolis apartment, on November 5th, 2013 in great part due to health concerns she couldn’t easily address alone. While I was living abroad for a year, she died rather suddenly from what was later determined to be heart failure. Had I been there, I’m certain I would have been able to see the signs or been a pillar of support. Most of my life I was there to drive her wherever she needed to go. Whenever she needed to go. Something I miss most is taking her out to breakfast on Sunday mornings. In her memory, I want to pursue an increased level of service to others with what time I would have kindly given my mom were she still with us. In doing so, perhaps I can encourage others to do the same.

 

 

 

 

In one month it will be the 8th anniversary of Lynn's passing. This time of year, I find it difficult not to reflect on how caring and generous my mom was with her time, thoughts, efforts, and love. There was little she with very little of her own wouldn't do for anyone as tho they were family—for faces she could barely see light up with joy or ease from the comfort of a good listener. Her's was a life of dedicated, loving sacrifice and service to those for whom she cared—most everyone she met. I’ve already been able to help few folk alone. With your assistance, I believe we can reach our goal and get to helping even more people by November 5th, 2021.

 

This is about more than rides. It’s about people.

 

 

Why Not Ride Share?

 

This is a vision of support and inclusivity. My heart’s intent is to support others and build community through radical friendship. This is not intended as a business, fueled by transactions at the expense of those in need. This proposes more than curbside drop off. I'm offering to drive to riders’ locations, accompany them to their destination, wait for subsequent or return trips, assist them at their destination if needed, help carry manageable items, and maybe we can have some conversations along the way.

 

We’ve heard stories and seen the dash cam videos of verbal and physical assaults—or worse. Both my mom and I survived of violent assaults. Safety from threat of discrimination and violence is incredibly important to me as it was to her. When you can barely recognize the face of your own child from 5 ft away, anyone can be a danger. I have no misdemeanors, no felonies, and a list of personal and professional references that attest to my commitment towards others. I want people to not only feel safe, but be safe. We’ve also seen riders cancelling a fare/ride out of malice or economic desperation. As a single parent and child, we skated the precarious edge of poverty most of our lives. The kindness shared between friends and family frequently sustained us. There’s a valuable distinction between friendship and commerce. Providing a safe, welcoming, and affordable ride is what sets this apart.

 

 

 

 

What Is This Campaign Funding?

 

We’re funding radical friendship, transformative change, and community by way of safe transportation assistance and community building. I believe in this so much that I went first and am donating a used 2004 Subaru Forester XS to the cause. Some might say this Subie is in dire need of a paint job and I'll admit that. The previous owner decided to Rhinoliner the hood and apply black spray paint over the fog and accessory lights. However, the immediate goal is function over form. I have affectionately named the car “Youbaru” (because it's in service to others). Along with my time (evening/weekends) and service as a safe, licensed driver with a clean record, I’m volunteering the expenses of completed repairs and what future maintenance/repairs I can manage on my own at home. Complete success, however, depends on the support of others. This effort is about community. Early interest has illuminated how this may quickly scale beyond a single driver or rider. If we can secure support for (or a donation of) a newer vehicle in need of less repair, that is also welcome, but for now we are here and our funds goals are modest.

 

 

 

 

Immediate Needs

 

The Subaru (pictured above) was recently purchased (used, as-is) from a local Indianapolis dealership. It’s modest. It runs and drives, but is in need of a few repairs beyond the ones I’ve already completed. I’ve been teaching myself auto repair through YouTube and have replaced the radiator, installed a new idler belt, new hose clamps (where needed), new battery, some fuse and wiring, bulbs, interior/interior trim, wiper blades, windshield washer nozzles, performed a lens restoration, etc.).

 

What remains for the foreseeable future includes:

 

 

 

Long Term Goals and Considerations

 

When sharing my intentions with close and extended community members, almost immediately I received offers of interest in volunteering as additional drivers. This was initially conceived as a one person operation, but there are many people who could benefit—more than I can fit in one Subaru.

 

Inspired community members are already imagining what this could become:

 

 

 

 

Going Places

 

Lynn, much like her mother, was legally blind and could not see well enough to drive. An indelible memories she shared from childhood was how easily even her corrected vision failed her and just how little she could see. While out riding her bicycle she unknowingly raced face first into a limb which left a scar. One of many life would give. I used to wonder how her world appeared—and how she found courage, fearlessness—living like none can stop you, and nothing's in your way.

 

 

 

 

Journey VS Destination

 

On her own, Lynn was able to tackle the everyday and occasionally travel, but as a single mother raising a Black child in the 70's and 80's she didn't have go very far to find challenges. One of my own first memories is of her pulling me along, wrapped up in garbage bags as a makeshift raincoat, in a rusty red Radio Flyer wagon thru the snow to preschool. Once she had dropped me off, she then had to walk miles to work. And miles home in the dark—all because she wanted us near the best schools she could find for me. Before Ubers and smart phones, we had to walk nearly everywhere, for anything, carrying groceries home thru every sort of weather. Some of my best memories are the meaningfully rich conversations we shared along the way.

 

 

 

 

 

Freedom

 

Right after I turned 16, my mom took her whole tax refund and bought us a used, light blue 1984 Toyota Tercel (like the one pictured above) for $1400 from Tom Wood on 96th street. Freedom. We were so excited to finally be able to drive places. That little Toyota radically transformed our lives. Instantly, out of the way record shops, movie theaters, and thrift stores were available. I could drive my mom to work, myself to school, and my friends to anywhere—not to mention no longer struggling home, arms breaking from sack fulls of groceries, thru Indiana winters. Unfortunately, before the year was over I was in a car accident on the very road my mom had been walking to and from work each day for years, totaling the Toyota—totaling myself—and again, radically transforming our lives. Undiagnosed traumatic brain injury, multiple broken bones and teeth, gum damage, tongue lacerations, and embedded glass. I was a mess. Worse than any of my injuries was knowing that along with my sense of immortality, we lost our freedom in that moment and I lost the opportunity to help my mom who helped so many others. It was seven long years and more recovery than I can now comprehend before I ever drove again. It was then sixteen some years later when my mom passed away unexpectedly. I spent most of my life near enough to her to be of some use and during my first time living abroad, I wasn't there when she needed me most: groceries, trips to thrift stores, our ritual Sunday breakfasts, or to be there to answer her call before she collapsed.

 

 

Urgency

 

Not all emergencies are exclusively medical. Some are financial. And most medical emergences become financial emergencies. People are calling Uber to go to the emergency room. The cost of ambulance rides in the United States can be thousands of dollars. An ambulance was called for my mom. She was revived in her apartment by a family member who made a point to stop in and check on her and knew CPR. She then finally passed away in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Had the arrived, she would not have been able to afford the care. I still remember receiving the bill for her ambulance ride and thinking "$XXXX…and you did not save her." Many can't afford the basics of life, let alone a thousand dollar rollercoaster to the even larger bill that awaits. So many needs can be addressed before they ever become emergencies—many issues could be prevented if people are less disconnected, less isolated, or less removed from addressing the self care that is community.

 

I hope to reach our goal by November 5th since travel needs increase with winter's arrival. A dear friend shared with me that upon her father's passing, she continued to speak with him, aloud. I've tried this myself for years, tho very little is a substitute for the conversations we had. Someone challenged me to do some soul searching and this is where it lead. I see this service as a way not only of honoring Lynn's memory, but in resuming the conversation we shared our entire life. Your help in sharing the link to this fund or in donating funds and knowledge will greatly aid us all in serving others.

 

Thank you.

 

—M