Life Line Fund for Makeda Peirce
Donation protected
Hello Friends and Extended Community,
Sudha (Carolyn) Lundeen, Arti Roots Ross and Sushila Virginia Schwerin write to you today to seek support for our long term friend Makeda Peirce (aka Suman ). Some of you might remember her from Kripalu ashram days as Suman. She worked in Veggie prep alongside Tapasavini. After leaving Kripalu Center in the late 80's, she moved back to Arizona, alternating staying with her mother or sister, camping and returning to the Berkshires in summers to "house-sit" a small farm in exchange for room and board.
In the last 10 years her living situation has become more and more an experience of "living on the edge". She was cut off from family support, and has been until recently living in a tent, seeking new places of refuge every few weeks. She is now in her mid 60's and camping as her main source of housing is no longer viable for her body or mind.
Additionally Makeda has struggled with mental health issues, including severe and debilitating PTSD making it all the more difficult to find places she feels safe and can acces appropriate mental health support. Steady employment is beyond her the she lives on a bare minimum of state aid.
She recently found subsidized housing , but it is only temporary. Her ability to focus and find the energy and ability to access new housing is minimal. It gets cold where she is and she is urgently in need of heat, hot water, a safe working car, and medicine for Cassi, her aging therapy dog and her one steady life line.
Food , transportation and permanent housing remain pressing needs.
Though she has been and is living on the edge most of the time, she is a wise, funny, generous and thoughtful woman. ( a small anecdote to exemplify this: I was once standing behind Makeda at the check out counter of the little grocery store in Lenox. The woman in front of Makeda had the look of one who lives on the street-rough around the edges. She did not have the money to buy her groceries. During an awkward moment between that woman and the cashier, Makeda reached into her thin wallet and simply handed over the money the needed for the groceries. "Here ya go, have a good day"- was all that was said . The woman walked away, looking grateful, not shamed.
We urge you to donate as you can. Please know that every dollar you offer will be well used. Makeda lives frugally and truly any donation will be used for real and immediate needs only.
The sooner money can start being deposited to her bank account, the sooner her stringent situation will find some ease. We are hoping to raise$5000 by January 31st.
* If you can think of anyone else who might be willing to offer financial support, prayers and / or a note of encouragement, PLEASE forward this to them.
PS- the photo of Makeda is from 10 years ago. Nurture is a major source of comfort when her basic needs are attended to.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
May we ever widen the circle of kindness and generosity.
Sudha, Arti and sushila
Sudha (Carolyn) Lundeen, Arti Roots Ross and Sushila Virginia Schwerin write to you today to seek support for our long term friend Makeda Peirce (aka Suman ). Some of you might remember her from Kripalu ashram days as Suman. She worked in Veggie prep alongside Tapasavini. After leaving Kripalu Center in the late 80's, she moved back to Arizona, alternating staying with her mother or sister, camping and returning to the Berkshires in summers to "house-sit" a small farm in exchange for room and board.
In the last 10 years her living situation has become more and more an experience of "living on the edge". She was cut off from family support, and has been until recently living in a tent, seeking new places of refuge every few weeks. She is now in her mid 60's and camping as her main source of housing is no longer viable for her body or mind.
Additionally Makeda has struggled with mental health issues, including severe and debilitating PTSD making it all the more difficult to find places she feels safe and can acces appropriate mental health support. Steady employment is beyond her the she lives on a bare minimum of state aid.
She recently found subsidized housing , but it is only temporary. Her ability to focus and find the energy and ability to access new housing is minimal. It gets cold where she is and she is urgently in need of heat, hot water, a safe working car, and medicine for Cassi, her aging therapy dog and her one steady life line.
Food , transportation and permanent housing remain pressing needs.
Though she has been and is living on the edge most of the time, she is a wise, funny, generous and thoughtful woman. ( a small anecdote to exemplify this: I was once standing behind Makeda at the check out counter of the little grocery store in Lenox. The woman in front of Makeda had the look of one who lives on the street-rough around the edges. She did not have the money to buy her groceries. During an awkward moment between that woman and the cashier, Makeda reached into her thin wallet and simply handed over the money the needed for the groceries. "Here ya go, have a good day"- was all that was said . The woman walked away, looking grateful, not shamed.
We urge you to donate as you can. Please know that every dollar you offer will be well used. Makeda lives frugally and truly any donation will be used for real and immediate needs only.
The sooner money can start being deposited to her bank account, the sooner her stringent situation will find some ease. We are hoping to raise$5000 by January 31st.
* If you can think of anyone else who might be willing to offer financial support, prayers and / or a note of encouragement, PLEASE forward this to them.
PS- the photo of Makeda is from 10 years ago. Nurture is a major source of comfort when her basic needs are attended to.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
May we ever widen the circle of kindness and generosity.
Sudha, Arti and sushila
Organizer and beneficiary
Sudha Carolyn Lundeen
Organizer
Lee, MA
Alison Peirce
Beneficiary