<div>I’m Toni, and I’m part of a team working to build out a rescue vehicle for trans and gender diverse people who are impacted by societal violence. This will help serve as a lifeline, transporting individuals from hostile areas to safer places along the I-10 and I-40 corridor.
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<div>The funds raised go directly toward finishing the shuttle. This includes materials, inclusions, systems, and structural work to make the vehicle fully functional for rescue support. Every dollar, every share, and every bit of support helps us move closer to providing safety and hope for trans and gender diverse people facing injustice.
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<div>This shuttle is a 2000 Thor Industries Shuttle Bus built on a Ford E450 V10 Triton chassis that has the critical ability to tow up to 4000 pounds – perfect for small rental trailers and trailer boxes.  We’ve managed to build out the vehicle to support travel for four people at a time, with custom mattresses, a full 4800 watt electrical system, brand new tires, and more. 
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<div>We started off with a generous 3500 dollar donation, and then were able to get short term loans to help out by folks hoping for success and helping out on the effort with time and labor. We still have more to do, and more things needed. As of this writing, the Shuttle, named Tellurium, or Telly, for short (who loves ya, baby?) is on a shakedown run to check the mechanical and basic systems.
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<div>If you’re able to donate, your contribution will make a real difference. If you can’t donate, sharing this fundraiser or spreading the word means the world to me. To keep everyone updated and involved, I’ll be posting updates every three days, sharing progress, explaining the process, and discussing the decisions behind each step. Thank you for believing in this mission and for standing with those who need a lifeline.
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<div>For those who want to help by providing materials, there is a wishlist available. Now, the story so far:
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<div>The shuttle became available earlier this year at a bargain price of 5500, and after taking care of a few other things, I started to do the work on her in early August to convert her as a means of operating as a rescue shuttle.
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<div>Th shuttle has a great heater system – it came down from the cold north, and so among the first tasks was addressing a lot of the undercarriage effects of being in a cold weather environment. That environment also means it has a phenomenal heating system.
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<div>It has four seats still present from the original, and they are mounted along one side with a table between them. We built a long counter and started adding in a full electrical, water, and propane system.
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<div>Then we had the first donation that started things, with a deadline for the shakedown cruise that it is out on now – 10 days. That created a rush system for us, and I was working 14 hour days and at one point worked 50 hours straight to try and get her ready for that.
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<div>Then, near the deadline, a disaster hit: the electrical system was built around a hybrid inverter, and it was bad. I tried several things, but was only able to cobble together a very basic system for power, which is essential to be able to run the AC unit.
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<div>The failure of the inverter means that I have to put more into the system, but it will be a solid system and with a small generator can operate for up to a week without having to stop off anywhere.
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<div>The original water system was impacted by this as well, but it was also a very simple system that we have found a new way to do it that is much improved and more effective – and include a shower!
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<div>We then had a blow out during the early start of the test run – despite the tires looking and feeling and testing out well, they were still older and had been exposed to harsh desert weather long enough that we had to spend 2000 to replace all six of them. 
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<div>The deadline and delays in getting materials meant that we also needed to bring in help – and that added the first labor costs. That will be around two thousand as well – not for me, but for someone who has fallen on hard times.
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<div>On the positive side, we were able to get custom mattresses made from the custom bunks we have built, and they came out phenomenally well. The rest of the systems are doing well, but we want to make the place something that feels more welcoming to the people we rescue.
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<div>Once the Shuttle comes back from the shakedown cruise, we will share daily updates as I move forward – but I can only move forward as funds come in, and we are all in serious debt from this and it is threatening simple things like eating food.
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<div>So, now, without the pressure of the first deadline, we have the pressure of the second one: our first rescue mission starts on October 7th.
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<div>So, please, give us a hand with this -- it will change lives.
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Gordon Osse

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April Calou

Sayge Robertson

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Diane Martin

Karen Kohlhaas

Barara Carrellas

Ashley Hall

Kenneth Brodzinski

Marianne Mullen

Natalie Jacobs

Matthew Hagberg

Lorentz Hansen

Michelle Dunn-Scott

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Jace Miller

Shuttle Bus Rescue for Trans and Diverse People

Shuttle Bus Rescue for Trans and Diverse People

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