Save the Beast!
Donation protected
Hi, I’m Zach. *waves*
Me and my partner’s van, The Beast, needs your help. Her transmission and engine have failed. We need to raise $4000 to $5000 to save her before our lease ends in February.
The Beast is more than just a Chevy Astro. Her interior has been converted to a living space. Solar panels on the roof provide electricity for her inhabitants. More than mere transportation, she's our backup home, provides access to half my annual income, and gives a way to move to places with a more affordable cost of living. She could catch me if nothing else works out.
Before diving deeper into the details, I’d like to provide a bit about myself.
I graduated Summa Cum Laude from PSU with a degree in positive psychology, and currently work as a manager of a team of tutors. In my off time, I write about philosophy, psychology, and politics. I'm also a visual artist, impromptu poet, and DJ. Spiritually, I’m devoted to nondual, Buddhist, paths. Finally, I serve as an organizer, mentor, and mediator in the communities I belong to.
Thank you for taking the time to read my request. It means more than I can easily express. #deepbow.
The Story, So Far:
Where to begin...So much has happened over the last few months leading up to the current crisis. I lost contract work providing 1/2 of my annual income, am losing my home, and now The Beast (whose belly can be slept in, if everything else fell through) has suffered catastrophic failure.
Because of this, I could really use help getting her repaired. This is where you come in.
So, I guess we can start with that...
The Beast Gets Sick:
Long story...but, basically, about a month ago she stalled out. I thought it was the transmission. There had been some trouble with that a few weeks before, and I was saving some money to get it worked on.
After stalling, I towed her to our mechanic, and he got back to me a few days ago. It was the transmission, but, making a huge problem even worse, the engine is also seized up. So, both are going to need to be completely rebuilt. Turning a $1,000 fix into a $4,000-5,000 one. Our mechanic quoted me $1,000 to replace the transmission and $3,000 to $4,000 to rebuild the engine.
Deep sigh. I’m getting stressed out even writing about it. This is far more than I can afford, given already strained resources. My savings are tapped and credit cards maxed out. And, not having The Beast greatly increases the danger of being without a home in the middle of the Winter.
Losing our Home:
Right after the election, our landlord canceled our lease. The whole household has to be out in February, and Portland has been going through a housing crisis over the last few years; rents have skyrocketed about 300%. Due to this, I'm having a difficult time finding a place to call home within my price-range. This, again, speaks to the importance of saving the Beast: she provides backup living quarters and could carry me and my belongings to cheaper locales.
The Beast was serving as a safety-net if everything else went downhill, and without her there to catch me, I’m feeling far more desperate and afraid than I was before, which is impacting my ability to focus on other crucial things: finding more work and an affordable place to live.
Work Falling Through:
All of this is made worse because I have far less money than I usually do this time of year.This Autumn, seasonal work that I depend on for half a year's income fell through. If I had this cushion, while these would be difficult times, I wouldn't be asking for help. Being able to stay in my current home until February, I wasn't too worried. I knew I could rely on The Beast.
With all of this in mind, The Beast and I are humbly asking for your support.
Other Ways to Contribute:
1) Share My Story: If you could put out the word in your communities and social-networks I would feel profound gratitude. The more people hear about what is going on, the more likely we can figure something out. Also, clicking the heart on my video can help this be seen by others!
2) Advocate for Me: I have a difficult time asking for help for myself. I have a hard time letting go of my pride, and often feel embarrassed and shrink up when asking. So, I would love some folks that can say something like, “Hey! Over here. Zach needs our help!”
3) Temporary Parking: In her current condition, The Beast isn't able to sit on the street legally. It may take time to raise the necessary money, and I don’t know if our mechanic will want to keep her in his shop throughout this. So, it would be great if someone had a driveway or some private land in Portland we could park on while raising funds.
4) A Place to Land: If we can’t raise the money quickly, I may need a semi-permanent place to park, while saving up enough for repairs. Preferably, this would be somewhere that wouldn't mind me using their washroom, kitchen, and some electricity in exchange for some rent or work.
5) A New Home: In one way or another, I’m going to need a new place to call home. Portland’s rent prices have gone through the roof over the last 10 years. So, I am more than open to cheap rooms for rent within communities looking for a clean, responsible, respectful person who both enjoys company and respects space.
6) Work Opportunities: Because of autumn work falling through, I need additional sources of income. If there are any organizations or individuals that could use one of my capacities, I’d desire to be of service. Check out my LinkedIn profile to get a better idea of my areas of expertise.
Heartfelt Thanks & Summary:
In an age of distractions, there are many competing demands for our time and attention. With that in mind, thank you so much for listening to my story. That alone means a lot to me, and I’m feeling more appreciation than I can muster the words for.
Also, last Thursday is when I found out about the extra repairs needed. Upon hearing this, for the first time during the ordeal, I completely emotionally collapsed. Since then, there has been an outpouring of generosity, which has given me a sliver of hope. This is a far cry from where I was. So I also want to say “Thank you” for that. It has been enheartening and keeps bringing tears to my eyes.
In sum, I need to raise the money within a few weeks or find a place to store The Beast until funds can be raised. Your contribution will help return her to working order and will provide a home if all else fails.
Thank you, everyone. Thank you so much,
Much Love, Zach
Me and my partner’s van, The Beast, needs your help. Her transmission and engine have failed. We need to raise $4000 to $5000 to save her before our lease ends in February.
The Beast is more than just a Chevy Astro. Her interior has been converted to a living space. Solar panels on the roof provide electricity for her inhabitants. More than mere transportation, she's our backup home, provides access to half my annual income, and gives a way to move to places with a more affordable cost of living. She could catch me if nothing else works out.
Before diving deeper into the details, I’d like to provide a bit about myself.
I graduated Summa Cum Laude from PSU with a degree in positive psychology, and currently work as a manager of a team of tutors. In my off time, I write about philosophy, psychology, and politics. I'm also a visual artist, impromptu poet, and DJ. Spiritually, I’m devoted to nondual, Buddhist, paths. Finally, I serve as an organizer, mentor, and mediator in the communities I belong to.
Thank you for taking the time to read my request. It means more than I can easily express. #deepbow.
The Story, So Far:
Where to begin...So much has happened over the last few months leading up to the current crisis. I lost contract work providing 1/2 of my annual income, am losing my home, and now The Beast (whose belly can be slept in, if everything else fell through) has suffered catastrophic failure.
Because of this, I could really use help getting her repaired. This is where you come in.
So, I guess we can start with that...
The Beast Gets Sick:
Long story...but, basically, about a month ago she stalled out. I thought it was the transmission. There had been some trouble with that a few weeks before, and I was saving some money to get it worked on.
After stalling, I towed her to our mechanic, and he got back to me a few days ago. It was the transmission, but, making a huge problem even worse, the engine is also seized up. So, both are going to need to be completely rebuilt. Turning a $1,000 fix into a $4,000-5,000 one. Our mechanic quoted me $1,000 to replace the transmission and $3,000 to $4,000 to rebuild the engine.
Deep sigh. I’m getting stressed out even writing about it. This is far more than I can afford, given already strained resources. My savings are tapped and credit cards maxed out. And, not having The Beast greatly increases the danger of being without a home in the middle of the Winter.
Losing our Home:
Right after the election, our landlord canceled our lease. The whole household has to be out in February, and Portland has been going through a housing crisis over the last few years; rents have skyrocketed about 300%. Due to this, I'm having a difficult time finding a place to call home within my price-range. This, again, speaks to the importance of saving the Beast: she provides backup living quarters and could carry me and my belongings to cheaper locales.
The Beast was serving as a safety-net if everything else went downhill, and without her there to catch me, I’m feeling far more desperate and afraid than I was before, which is impacting my ability to focus on other crucial things: finding more work and an affordable place to live.
Work Falling Through:
All of this is made worse because I have far less money than I usually do this time of year.This Autumn, seasonal work that I depend on for half a year's income fell through. If I had this cushion, while these would be difficult times, I wouldn't be asking for help. Being able to stay in my current home until February, I wasn't too worried. I knew I could rely on The Beast.
With all of this in mind, The Beast and I are humbly asking for your support.
Other Ways to Contribute:
1) Share My Story: If you could put out the word in your communities and social-networks I would feel profound gratitude. The more people hear about what is going on, the more likely we can figure something out. Also, clicking the heart on my video can help this be seen by others!
2) Advocate for Me: I have a difficult time asking for help for myself. I have a hard time letting go of my pride, and often feel embarrassed and shrink up when asking. So, I would love some folks that can say something like, “Hey! Over here. Zach needs our help!”
3) Temporary Parking: In her current condition, The Beast isn't able to sit on the street legally. It may take time to raise the necessary money, and I don’t know if our mechanic will want to keep her in his shop throughout this. So, it would be great if someone had a driveway or some private land in Portland we could park on while raising funds.
4) A Place to Land: If we can’t raise the money quickly, I may need a semi-permanent place to park, while saving up enough for repairs. Preferably, this would be somewhere that wouldn't mind me using their washroom, kitchen, and some electricity in exchange for some rent or work.
5) A New Home: In one way or another, I’m going to need a new place to call home. Portland’s rent prices have gone through the roof over the last 10 years. So, I am more than open to cheap rooms for rent within communities looking for a clean, responsible, respectful person who both enjoys company and respects space.
6) Work Opportunities: Because of autumn work falling through, I need additional sources of income. If there are any organizations or individuals that could use one of my capacities, I’d desire to be of service. Check out my LinkedIn profile to get a better idea of my areas of expertise.
Heartfelt Thanks & Summary:
In an age of distractions, there are many competing demands for our time and attention. With that in mind, thank you so much for listening to my story. That alone means a lot to me, and I’m feeling more appreciation than I can muster the words for.
Also, last Thursday is when I found out about the extra repairs needed. Upon hearing this, for the first time during the ordeal, I completely emotionally collapsed. Since then, there has been an outpouring of generosity, which has given me a sliver of hope. This is a far cry from where I was. So I also want to say “Thank you” for that. It has been enheartening and keeps bringing tears to my eyes.
In sum, I need to raise the money within a few weeks or find a place to store The Beast until funds can be raised. Your contribution will help return her to working order and will provide a home if all else fails.
Thank you, everyone. Thank you so much,
Much Love, Zach
Organizer
Zaq Mosher
Organizer
Portland, OR
