I’m writing personally, as Helena Bee’s friend and colleague at San Francisco Zen Center, where I’ve had the great joy of working closely with her in Online Programs for the past four and a half years.

Helena is facing a serious and overwhelming medical situation involving kidney failure, dialysis, a major leg injury requiring surgery, and ongoing complications that have made her recovery especially difficult. Her day-to-day life has changed drastically, and she may be unable to work for as long as six months.

This fundraiser is intended to help ease the financial pressure of that change. Contributions will help with lost income, rent, utilities, food, transportation to dialysis and medical appointments, medical-adjacent costs, possible caregiving support, and other basic needs while Helena focuses on healing.

Many people in the SFZC community know Helena through her deep love and dedication to Tassajara and her essential work supporting Online Programs.

As a monastic or guest at Tassajara, you may have received her care through the meals she prepared, the bread she baked, and the warmth she brought to the kitchen and community life.

As a teacher at San Francisco Zen Center, you may have experienced her steady support behind the scenes, helping online offerings run smoothly so you could focus on sharing the Dharma.

As a student in online classes and workshops, you may not have seen all the details Helena was tending, but you likely felt the result: a welcoming, reliable, human, and carefully held experience.

Across time and distance, Helena helps create warmth, welcome, clarity, and care. Working alongside her, I have seen how her consistency has been game-changing for me and for Online Programs. There have been times when, without Helena’s work, we simply would not have been able to continue offering online classes with the care and reliability our Sangha deserves.

I really miss her presence, and I know many others do too. So many of us have received the benefit of Helena’s care. Now we have a chance to return some of that care to her.

Every contribution, large or small, will help surround Helena with support and remind her that she is not facing this alone. If you are not able to give financially, sharing this fundraiser or sending a message of support would also mean so much.

This is not an official SFZC fundraiser, but a personal request from Helena’s friend and colleague.

Thank you for helping us hold Helena in love, gratitude, and care.